On the Mend.

On the evening of Mother’s Day, my bride and I were able to take in a movie. Being that it was a holiday celebrating all that moms do for us, I let Michele pick the flick we’d watch. Michele choose the love story called, “Something Borrowed”. I’m embarrassed to say that recently I was in a conversation where I heard this genre referred to as “ROM-COM”. You know the type... over paid leading lady whose name the execs “hang their hats on”...some up-start, love interest with photshop worthy abs and an odd resemblance of a younger and less crazy Tom Cruise....and of course, all the typical LOVE cliches thrown in as the plot drags the audience through multiple redefinitions of true love.
Somewhere in the rising action of this film, my wife of 8 years leans in to me and says, “That’s not True Love. True Love is waking you with a poke in the middle of the night to say that the dog needs to go out to poop.”
And you know what? She’s right - True Love is all those little things that can sometimes go unnoticed. No one is going to write a script about the misadventures of potty training a new puppy and I doubt Hollywood would have any interest in the night Michele and I then spent together on Monday but they should.
Late Monday night I saw True Love. Being the voice of reason, Michele carted me off to the Emergency Room in Mora where somewhere in the wee hours of the night a surgeon cut into and took out a part of my innards that I no longer needed. Making the decision to not let me tough it out - that’s True Love. As if she were my biographer, Michele routinely answered the necessary pre-op medical questions the nurses asked. True Love. When I was told to prep for surgery and put on my gown, Michele loved me enough to ask the nurse if she meant that the boxers had to go too. Post-Op and without a minute of sleep, Michele carried on a conversation with me as the sun approached the horizon. Under anesthesia, I recall none of the conversation but it makes me feel so good to listen to her retell her side of the ordeal. True Love.
Love Is.... that little cartoon strip that I sometimes clip out of the newspaper but you know what else Love is???
Love is... my cell phone ringing non-stop as friends and family continue to check on my progress. (I’m doing O.K. - just feel like that guy from Spaceballs after the Alien does it’s little song and dance out of his abdomen.)
Love is... when my retired buddy calls me midday and says he’s delivering lunch within the half hour.
Love is... the stock pile of PowerAde that Michele picked up for me before heading to Grandma’s in Bismark.
Love is... knowing that my kids are in capable hands and receiving oodles of attention, staying with the Johnsons while I rest and recover at home.
You know what??? Let me tell you something else... I saw True Love again tonight.
Knowing that rest without responsibility will get me back on the Up and Up a lot faster, my wife arranged for Emma and Logan to stay with Miss Jennine and her family for a couple of days. It would be easier for me to heal alone while she was out of town.
My two youngest have assimilated into the Johnson clan with ease. Each one of the Johnson children is so wonderful in their own special way, it just melts my heart knowing that the Kirby kids are loved in that house just the same. One would think that with the shear size of their family that it might be easy to just slip through the cracks...go unnoticed... but it doesn’t happen.
I am in pain. Have been off and on since surgery. I left the house for the first time today to go to the Post Office. That hurt. Tonight Emma had her 1st Grade Musical performance at the school. No matter the pain, I was not going to miss the Barnyard Moosical. Jennine said that she would be willing to get Emma up to the school and I challenged myself to test my pain threshold and meet them there. With rain falling and the parking lot full, I winced and walked my way into the gym. What I saw next filled my heart... Made me forget all of my pain... Made me realize again what good friendship is... Made me redefine True Love.
I expected to see the Halo Queen there. She’s the perfect mix of June Cleaver and Sarah Connor. My boy, Logan sat comfortably on her lap as the two of them made for a Norman Rockwell moment. I’m telling you, Jennine was put on this Earth to make children happy, to raise good kids. Seeing her bask in the glow of an Elementary musical is what I expected. What I didn’t expect was too see every other member of the Johnson family there in support of my little 1st grade piglet. Oh, maybe I thought Elly would tag along being as she’s adopted Emma as her unofficial little sister/make-up and nails test model. Maybe I figured little Nathaneal might be there too in support of his Mom and my Logan but I didn’t expect to see the Big Brothers Johnson. Teenagers completely capable of taking care of themselves could have easily talked their parents out of attending some silly childish song and dance. Dudes don’t need to be seen out and about taking in the performance arts of 6 year olds. But these jackwagons weren’t only there, they were happily there. Smiles on their faces. Waving at my daughter. Making small talk with the crowd. Halo Queen sometimes calls him KevKev. The engine on his car hasn’t even had time to cool from his Freshman year of college and KevKev is home for the summer break, celebrating by taking in a 1st grade program. And there sat the Prop Man too! Pater Familias, Darren Johnson, presided over his whole flock and proudly told passers by that he no longer had children of 1st grade age but was there to watch a friend’s kid. Surely there was a hockey playoff game to watch (yeah right) or a leaky faucet to fix somewhere but NO... they were all there.
There to make my daughter feel LOVED. My tummy don’t hurt no more gang. My hearts too full.

Ma-thaneal, you rock. EllyMNOP - you’re the best. Isaiah, getting big dude. Logan, you know which muscle is strongest. Dan, you have a heart of gold. Kevin, I’m proud of you. Thanks Prop Man. Thanks Halo Queen.
Thanks Michele.