Tell me...did this really happen or not?!

As I was walking the grandboys home from the park a couple days ago I heard a car come roaring up behind me. As the side streets are narrow and the sidewalks impossible to navigate with 100 pounds of laden-down double stroller, I choose to walk along the 'hump' in the middle of the street to keep things balanced. When I heard the car approaching, I veered off to the right to give whomever plenty of room to pass by. At that moment I also approached a Stop sign so stopped at the intersection at the same moment the car next to me did. The driver, a young man, took the opportunity to yell out the open window at me, "There are better places to walk than the middle of the road, ya know!"

Granted, he had a point.

So I called back to him as he hit the gas pedal, "I know, but the sidewalks here aren't built for double strollers. And thank you so much for being so concerned about our welfare!"

Several blocks further as I approached another intersection I stopped as I saw a car pull up to the Stop signs there.

Hmmmmmmmm...the car appeared to be familiar. This same young gentleman who'd been so concerned about our welfare.

I waved him on, as I always do any car because the boys and I are just meandering and never in a hurry. The young man then waved to me to go...and then realized who I was.

Ooooooooops.

He leaned his head out his window and said to me ever-so-contritely "I'm sorry about being such a butt head to you back there."

I'm sorry he was, too.

But I smiled and accepted his apology

And we both went our separate ways.

Somehow I think that moment lightened both our days.

If I'd Known Then What I Know Now....

...I wouldn't have wasted so much time fretting about things that never came to pass.

...I would've taken better care of my feet and not worn all those platform shoes in the 70's.

...I would've listened to my mother and not read in the dark.

...I would've eaten Chinese food long before I finally got brave enough to try it when I was 19.

...I would've kept all of my Beatle records, photos, and magazines with articles about them in it.

...I would've kissed Craig Carter.

...I would've hugged more and not been so afraid of touching.

...I would've held on to some friends more closely and let others go a long time ago.

...I would've read even more than I did.

...I would've learned how to swim better.

...I would've appreciated my parents more than I did.

...I would've tried to store more of my children's childhood moments in my memory.

...I wouldn't have been so timid about speaking up for myself.

...I wouldn't have been so concerned about what others thought of me.

...I would've relaxed more, stressed less, and devoted more time to gardening.

...I would've learned how to play the piano.

...I would've realized that time goes by waaaaaaaaay too fast and to begin savoring the sweet moments at a much earlier age.

I know, I know...there are those who'll say that "You can STILL do several of those things NOW!" And I could, yes. But these are things I've regretted at various stages in my life. And ones I still regret now.

Woe is Me....

Yesterday as I walked the boys and we headed down a quiet side street the door of a house flew open and a young mother and her two little girls came out on the porch, preparing to leave. When the older of the girls spotted us she ran down the steps and to the gate, leaning over it and waving at me.

"Hi!" she called out.

"Hi!" we all called back.

"Happy Mother's Day!" she yelled.

"Thank you!" I yelled back.

I'm wise enough to know that, in her mind, yesterday was Mother's Day.