The Dance

     The other day when the hubs and I went out to lunch, a friend of ours stopped by our table to say hi and chat. We hadn't seen him in awhile so it was nice that he did. But then he started in on the church issue. "When are you going to go?" "Why haven't you yet?" Normally, John takes the blame to save me from having a discussion I don't like having. But this time I stepped up and took the heat. Now, I understand, being a  retired minister it's his responsibility to bring people into the church but he has never been this pushy with us. And to top it off, he had to throw in the miracle I received and "how can you turn your back on that?" I have to admit, I had been pretty cool about the whole thing but that was the 300 pound straw that broke the proverbial camel's back. Turn my back? Seriously?? Ok, you can lecture me in front of everyone in the VFW but question my faith? That's going a little too far. John saw the sparks in my eyes and turned back to his lunch, trying very hard to be oblivious to the wrath the poor Rev. was about to endure. But being the good girl that doesn't like to cause a scene in a public place, I put my 'tude in check, bit the inside of my cheek and calmly replied. "I have a relationship with God. I talk to him every single day. I don't think I need to be in a specific location to talk to him or thank him for all the wonderful things he has done in my life." Well, I could tell that I must have had a pretty good arguement because all he could come up with was that the "church family" is an important part of it.  I have surrounded myself with many wonderful people that are family to me. Not because we all go to the same church or believe the same thing. But because we genuinely care about and love each other. And when push comes to shove, I know they will always be there for me. That is far more important to me than someone that feels we need to be friends because we are in a church family. My mom and I had a church family when I was younger and, honestly, the only ones that acted like family were the ones we were already related to!
     So this played over in my head all afternoon. And I had the same discussion with myself, as usual, debating whether I should just give in to the "norm" or do what I believe. And is what I believe ok?
     Later that afternoon, I went out to the garage to tell the hubs that I was going to pick up Josie from school. And that's when it happened. Out of nowhere John said "dragonfly!" I looked outside and it was floating and diving and circling our trucks. I went out into the driveway and stood still. The dragonfly circled and swooped down around me. The entire time I'm laughing and shrieking like an idiot, trying desperately to keep my eyes on it and John is yelling, "It's your Mom!" This dance with me and the dragonfly went on about 5 wonderful minutes. And then I couldn't see it anymore. I could feel my smile fade and I turned to ask John where it went. He no more said "right behind you" when it came within 2 inches of the top of my head. I've said before that dragonflies come to me and after I had time to think about it, I know this one surely did. John always says the dragonflies that come around me are my Mom checking on me. It kind of makes sense considering this never happened to me until after she passed away. But I don't think it was her that day. I think it was one of God's many messengers floating by to tell me I'm ok and not to worry what others think because it only matters what God thinks of me. I don't know for sure but I do know that it made me feel at peace inside and the worry I had was gone.

Crazy Stuff my Husband Does in his Sleep

     Over the years, my husband has done all kinds of stuff in his sleep. When he was a young child, he would sleepwalk all the time. One time, when he was about 9, his parents found him heading out of town on 752.  Now mind you, we live in a small town and it's really not that far to head out of town. I suppose to a parent of a wandering child it seems like miles, but the fact that he had to cross rail road tracks to get where they found him would have done it for me. His sleepwalking was so bad as a child that his dad had to put all kinds of locks on the door to keep him from wandering. And when they went on vacation, they had to give him a shot of whiskey to keep him in bed! I regret to say that this trait has carried over to our daughter. But so far she hasn't left the house. She just wanders to the living room, has a conversation with us and goes back to bed.
     When we were first married, he used to relive his entire day in his sleep. The first time it happened it really freaked me out. (And that is the main reason I would tell someone to live together before they get married!!) Now you have to understand he didn't just talk in his sleep. I could have handled random incoherent mumblings but he had full blown conversations with whomever pissed him off that day! And if only it were conversations. It was cussing, yelling and basically telling the person what a dumb ass they were! But it doesn't end there. There was also the fighting. He would fight these people in his sleep. Something he couldn't do at work. The worst was the time he was so into it that he threw himself out of bed. At the time we had a waterbed and I still can't figure how he pulled that one off!
     He also used to "coma-eat". That's what he called it when he would eat in his sleep. I cannot begin to count the mornings I woke up to expect a clean kitchen and there would be food, utensils and empty containers on the counter. And he would not remember it! If only he would have learned to coma-clean it would have been wonderful!
     His sleep habits have changed over the years and there isn't so much of the sleep-talking or -eating anymore. He sleeps a lot better now that he uses a CPAP at night. But when he snoozes in that recliner, there is no telling what you will see or hear! It got so crazy the other night that I decided to make a list of:
Crazy Stuff my Husband Does in his Sleep

* Rocking in the recliner while sitting straight up asleep. This isn't so much crazy as it is creepy.
* Putting a cigarette in his mouth and then falling back to sleep before he can light it. This usually ends up with the lighter on the floor and the cigarette stuck to his lip.
 * Shaking his legs. Our recliners are part of a sectional so when he shakes his legs it normally causes seasickness in me.
 * Random incoherent mumblings.
 * Slapping his belly for no apparent reason.
And the craziest thing my husband does in his sleep....
Tapping his foot to the beat of the music that is on the T.V. and amazingly not miss a beat!
     My husband always asks me what I would do without him around to keep me entertained. I really don't know. I suppose I could watch Comedy Central a lot more. But I don't think that would help much because he is even funnier awake then he is asleep!