Regardless

Regardless of whatever happens next, you know it's going to be a good day when you get a phone call first thing from your doctor with the message that the recent CT scan showed no sign of the bone cancer he'd thought was the source of pain.  Dodged that bullet, whew!  I sent out the word to the family and received such loving words of encouragement from them all.

The next caller advised me that the document I'd lost to the attic of the wind wasn't required after all.  Big sigh of relief.

And then I received a third terrific call, this from my son-from-another-mother, Clay.  We text often but, as he said, we don't talk "face to face" as much and it was nice to have a catch-up chat.

Later, I called my friend Tinka to wish her happy birthday, and mentioned that Clay might be coming up soon.  "Now, which one of your sons is Clay?"  I will admit that my family tree is a little convoluted, what with blood kin and those who are children of my heart.  I explained that Deb is the only girl, that's an easy one.  Dave, Pete, and Larry (in that order) are Deb's natural brothers.  Clay is an add-on who came into my life and our hearts when he was barely in his 20s.  He was one of Steve's best friends, in the truest sense of that word, and he is now, as the Kids say with affection, my "good son."  Craig, Deb's husband, is the latest addition to my crew and I've thanked his other mother for the privilege of sharing her boy.  Deb and Craig have been happily married over 15 years and I'm thrilled that he calls me Mom.  My family is a combination of ethnic backgrounds, religions, political or apolitical views, and careers.  The glue that holds us together is love, kindness, and mutual respect.  And laughter.  Oh my God, can't leave out the laughter.  They're a rowdy bunch, and I'm proud that they are my rowdy bunch.

It was a day that began well and ended better, and it doesn't get much better than that.