Gracie and Words Beginning with "P"

Be careful what you pray for, you just might get it.  Gracie learns this lesson as she kneels in prayer and asks what seems like a simple question:

 "What would happen if I rented out part of my house?"

 The next morning she awakens to an email from someone from her past:

"My husband can telecommute and we were looking for a place to rent for five or so months,,,," 

she reads with astonishment.  

 "Is this an answer from God or am I reading it wrong?”

she quizzically asks, looking upward.  She ponders what would have to be done for such an exchange to take place and wonders where she would go. Her son counsels:

"Commit now; plan later."  

That doesn't sound right…. Then he explains:

"You ask someone to marry you, then you plan the wedding; you save up for a house down payment and then get a mortgage.” 

OK, this does make sense. She begins to plan as questions flood her mind beginning with what should she pack away and where should she put it?

She prepares by sorting through the genealogy closet where she finds her father's high school yearbook from 1935; her mother's diploma from nursing school, and her Mum's wedding dress from September 1, 1939 (the day Hitler marched into Poland). The family joke was that was the day that two great wars began. She finds her own 8th grade graduation picture and stands in the middle of the room crying for the loss of one friend fifty years ago and then cries all over again for the joy of the friend that remains so after fifty-eight plus years.

Gracie realizes, as she never has before, that she has a great sentimental attachment to her home. This process of packing up and moving out may be harder than it first appeared. She cries a lot and then forges ahead. Everything seems to fall into place largely due to her fantastic handyman and friend as his help and advice is comforting.  She distributes some things to friends and relocates others within her own home.

“Keep a list, Woman!” says a small voice in her head, 

“The days are winding down.” and suddenly Gracie panics.  

“What's happening? Why I am leaving a perfectly wonderful life for the Unknown? What if…?! What if…?! What if…?!”

 She begins to realize that "if" is one of the biggest words in the English language. Again she hears her son’s counsel: 

"Ma, Ma," (it's always two Mas if he wants her to pay attention) "of course you will miss your old life when you are on the road, but that doesn't mean that what you are doing doesn't have value."

Can this font of wisdom be her child?  She takes his words to heart and also remembers the words of her friend Esther when faced with a major decision in her own life“…if I perish, I perish.” But if not???? 

Gracie takes a deep breath and  plunges into her future.   

More will be revealed as the path unwinds. 

Copyright © 2014 Martina Sabo