I haven't written in Oobie's blog in awhile and there have been many chances for me to do so but many days we just seem very busy. Uma (Oobie) keeps me laughing all the time, so it would be difficult to post all the stuff she says.
One of my favorite things she has been saying as of lately is, if you ask her her name she says, "SCOOBIE DOOOOO!!!", in her little chipmunk voice and adds a bit of a howl on the word "DOO."
But it is today's conversation that I wanted to post about. I think today's conversation had some deeper meaning than a normal conversation with a 4 year old often misses.
Uma went with me for my Friday run, as she so often does. She rides in my jogger, playing DJ for me on my iphone, sometimes talking my ear off, or pulling leaves off trees. We tend to run just 5 miles on a paved trail, but on days like today, when by 9:30 am it's already 90 degrees out and the humidity is at 20% (that is very high for the SW), 5 miles seems like a lot. I felt like "poor me" running in these conditions.
Around mile 2, Uma and I encountered a man working on the landscaping of the nearby country club who had no left arm. The man was about 60 years old. I said "good morning" as we passed, and he gave me a nod and said "hello."
Uma asked "why doesn't he have an arm." She said it kind of loud, but I didn't think it was a big deal, the man probably gets asked a lot about it, and she is little and it was a legitimate question.
I said "I don't know, maybe he lost it in a war, or an accident, maybe he got an infection and it needed to be removed. Whatever the reason, he is a good man for working so hard."
Uma agreed with me, she said "It would be hard to work with just one arm. If that was me, it would be hard for me to play Barbies." I love that she thought about how she would feel if it was her in the same situation.
I continued "You're right Uma. I am sure it is difficult for him and he is doing some really hard work today. Landscaping is hard work. He is brave to work through his disability. I bet you, he has a wonderful testimony."
Uma agreed and we continued on our way.
It was hot and humid out today, and I thought how much I was suffering for less than an hour for a stupid run, a run that I insisted on going on, not for need, but for fun, and then I was presented with an opportunity to show my daughter someone who must have put real suffering behind him and continues on, working with a smile, all day, in the heat. It was a great conversation and I am thankful for this chance encounter.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lyz-lenz/how-to-raise-a-kid-who-isnt-whiny-and-annoying_b_3248085.html
Here is a post that I thought was fitting for this entry. Running in the heat... A first world problem.
