As I have ‘muddled’ through another holiday season, I truly appreciated those in my life and the memories I have with those no longer here on Earth with us. This time of year is full of “Christmas Wishes” and holiday spirits, but to those of us who live with caution, I am very careful about the wishes I make.
They say we wish our life away. I get that. We wish for Friday night every Monday morning as we trot off to work. We wish the house would clean itself so we don’t have to spend a Saturday cleaning. We wish dinner was made when we get home in the evening so we don’t have to cook. Watch what you wish for. Life happens in those moments we wish to bypass and most memories are made during these moments in time.
My granddaughter told me just the other night how she wished she was “big” because she doesn’t want to go to school. She is only six. I asked her if she wanted to work for a living. She said “no.” I said, “Well, you have to work as a grown-up to pay bills.” She said she wanted to be big like ‘grandpa.’ I said “Retired?” and she said “yes.” I reminded her grandpa has to pay bills too, but he had to work to get there and had a lot to show for it. All I could think is that is a big leap from 6 to 62! I don’t want her to miss growing up, although not many of us ever want to repeat it! All I thought about as she told me her wish is “watch what you wish for, baby girl!” We may not like the ride sometimes, but it is a ride worth taking!
Several weeks ago, I watched the movie “Big” with Tom Hanks before my granddaughter’s wish. He had wished he was ‘big’ because he did not meet the height requirement for a ride at the carnival and embarrassed himself in front of a cute girl. Truthfully, he may have just wanted to be taller. Who knows. Well, his wish came true and he woke up the next day an adult. He was able to get a glimpse of what that wish did and, luckily, got to go back and cherish his childhood. Wishes are literal and do not have ESP so when making those wishes, we need to be specific.
I actually ran into one of those Zoltar Speaks machines that was in the movie “Big” about six months ago . I wished to be thin again. It didn’t work. Then, I looked and it was still plugged in. That’s my excuse for it not working. Tom Hanks’ machine was unplugged. Who knew? But what would an immediate wish coming true do for me anyway? Would it have changed the process that caused me to not be so ‘thin’ anymore? Making a wish doesn’t change you, it changes the process to reach those goals.
In the movie, we saw Tom Hanks muddle through the changes because he was not ready to be ‘big.’ As in the movie, when my life took a sudden, unexpected turn, I muddled as well. Seven plus years later, I still feel as if there are times I am muddling through the process of this change since my son died. I don’t remember making this “wish” but I am sure there are times I made a wish without thinking of what I would miss. I reiterate, watch what you wish for. Wishing someone is grown and out of the house comes with repercussions. How I long to do his laundry today, or clean up his mess, or make him a meal I know he would love. I know a Zoltar machine was nowhere near me at the time, but I guess that is why it worked for Tom Hanks without being plugged in…
I wish holiday cheer for those here, and wish happy memories for those who are “muddling” as I do. If Zoltar was in front of me today, I would wish for a little ‘Heaven’ here on Earth. I can’t wish for someone to come back from Heaven. He wouldn’t want to leave there anyway from what I understand of Heaven. Heaven is the ultimate wish most of us have in the back of our minds, but at the end of our life. If I were to wish anything, I think it would be that both my children have peace in their lives, whether here or in Heaven, even if for a moment. We know the chaos of life can be overwhelming, but peace happens in small segments sometimes. I want to think those segments are “wishes” coming true and I should be getting my Zoltar card that states “Your wish is granted.”
Cheers to a new year. May your wishes be specific and your time memorable, even if it is not the “fun” of a six year old. Always remember, those moments we want to skip are moments we will look back on and realize those were our growth moments. Even the sad moments will assist us in relishing in those happy moments.
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