How's your year been? . . .

 Last week or so I got my hair cut for the first time since late November/early December 2019, don't recall exactly. I usually like a cut before Christmas and Easter.

Ha!

I have long hair so ponytails combined with Covid wasn't the biggest deal in the world on the extended delay, but when we get to the ponytails not pulling their weight anymore, it's really time for a cut.

So, I got it scheduled and had the cut a couple weeks ago. Gonna be an interesting Christmas look off of this August cut! (-:

One thing really surprised me though as I sat in the chair that I sit in only twice a year as it is, for maybe the last ten years or so.

Cliffton, my hair stylist who's actually been nominated for an Emmy for cutting hair in the movies (lah-dee-dah!), asked me how my year has been after filling me in on how it's gone with the cancer he'd just been diagnosed with at our last appointment. 

Without a pause from the ending of his question, out of my mouth came, "Well, pretty peaceful and relaxing actually." 

"I got to be with my kids a lot, not running around everywhere, be in my yard growing the gardens, I kept lots of my students and figured out online teaching. So, yeah, you know . . . "

But a few times since then it's struck me that my instinctive answer was, 

"pretty peaceful and relaxing actually."

Because, well . . . 

What?? We're in a world-wide PANDEMIC!! You've had a son die! Your next teen son is in a complete life shut down and not receiving the care he needs living away from your home and now another son is beginning high school!  You've cried to the wind for the second one, just like the first one, again for an entire year to no avail! The younger kids schooling is all messed up! No one can do their sports or hang out easily in large groups, you had to wear a mask at the campground for heaven's sake! Everyone's on the computers all.day.long. You had your beloved intact family taken away from you without discussion amidst such bizarre darkness and you're a single mom who's largest budget item is diligently set aside for car repairs!!

"Well, pretty peaceful and relaxing actually."

?????????

Yep.

Lake Superior 2020

Where can that response come from for anyone in a world of trials and tribulations?

Praise God from whom all blessings flow

Praise Him all creatures here below

Praise Him above ye heavenly hosts

Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost

A while later during the cut, kinda under his breath and very unexpected, while I don't even remember what we were talking about, he said, "You're my hero." I said, "What was that?" "You're my hero, " he said. "Oh, um thanks, but it's really not me."