Mike's Place

By Michael L. Craner

It’s been a few months since I wrote here, but I’m not sorry. Maybe it’s because most of my columns lately have been a complaint of some kind, about the government, “state of the union,” health care, or whatever. These past couple months have had me busy with work and family affairs and I just haven’t had time to complain or pick on anyone. It’s a good thing too, because if I kept up like that I imagine I would have turned into a cynical mal-content who never has anything good to say about anything…and that’s not really me at all. Oh, I still stand behind everything I said, but you have to look at the good things too.

Lately I’ve taken some time to notice things in my life. I’ve been off “the road” for a year and a half now, and my relationship with my wife and kids has improved steadily over this time. I thought just getting off the road would have made things instantly all better, life goes on, etc. I realize now that it just isn’t true. It takes time to re-build the trust and love of your children who were used to seeing you only on weekends, (often sleeping off night shifts for half of that time). We’ve come to start really relating to each other, although only recently, not a year and a half ago like I had expected. I knew we were bad off when I was never home, but seeing how long it has taken us to reach this point, I see just how bad the damage was.

We’ve done a lot of healing and growing, and now I have begun again to do some inner reflecting to re-discover myself and where I want to be. I’ve taken notice of the smaller things in my life, and come to love them and cherish them because they each have taught me things on a level unbelievable considering that many people ignore them all too often.

Each morning after my kids get on the bus and I head out to work, at some point on my 35-mile commute I meet another school bus coming towards me. Each morning throughout the school year for the last year and a half the driver and I exchange a wave. Although we have never met, it’s like we are old friends. The days we miss each other, I notice, and feel kind of sorry for missing this part of our daily routine. It’s a part that makes me feel good, an acceptance--no, more like an acknowledgement, and it makes my day knowing I have a friend out there with a smile no matter how tired, stressed, OR happy, I am.

For the second spring in a row, a couple of sparrows have nested under the eve of our front porch, right outside my bedroom window. Let me tell you, there is nothing more magical or beautiful than waking up on weekend mornings and hearing the tiny chirpings of baby birds clamoring for the food that mamma bird brings. I’ll roll over on my stomach, and pull the curtain back and just lie there and watch them for a while. I’m no bird watcher, but I might be someday. This place is blessed with all kinds of beautiful birds of all colors and sizes. I watched mamma feeding the babies, and wondered if she fed them all, or just the first available mouth. I was concerned that the strongest would prevail and get all the food and leave the other two weak, if not starved. I watched as mamma bird fed one, then left for more food. The little guy just sat there, un-moving, with his mouth open waiting for more. Soon she returned, and all three started clamoring again. Momma just reached right over the top of the baby she fed last and fed the next one, and then the third, making sure that all her babies had enough to eat, and love prevails over Darwin once again.

Once, I worked all night, and got home just after dawn. I knew the kids would be up soon, so sleep wasn’t really an option. I remembered I had my fishing pole in the back of the truck so I stopped off at the creek below the house to unwind a bit and see if anything was biting. My favorite hole has a bit of rapids, and a wider smooth area. Each offers relaxing peace with either the sound of running water, or silky-smooth surface reflecting the trees and sky. As I sat and cast my line, I could understand why Jesus was a fisherman. I have never felt closer to God than sitting right there, right then drinking in the beauty and peace, and He even blessed me with two pan-sized rainbows to take home.

Sometimes, I come home from work and the TV stays off. We all go out to the front porch and eat dinner, enjoying the fresh air and quiet solitude. Then the kids go down into the yard and ride the bicycles, or push their trucks up a ramp made from a few bricks and a piece of plywood, or splash around in the kiddie pool if it’s too hot. Susie and me will just sit back in our chairs and watch, laugh, talk about this or that. Then as it gets dark the kids will come up and join us in the light of the bug zapper, and we’ll call the Owls in. My oldest is finally starting to believe they aren’t “Killer Owls”, though my youngest isn’t convinced. Sometimes he stares at me with enormous, terrified eyes with a tremble in his voice as he tries to tell me about the “Who-Whos” coming. Then I’ll tell him it’s all ok, they won’t hurt him. Soon he’ll offer out his own tentative owl calls, although quiet and still a little fearful. Sometimes we’ll even see the owls, as the swoop by for a closer look at whoever is calling them -- now that’s really cool! After a while, we’ll put the kids to bed, and come back out, listen to the radio and talk some more, look at the billions of stars, and the cloud of bugs around the zapper. Then we’ll go to bed, and I sleep knowing that all is right in the world, at least in mine.

Life is full of simple pleasures, and you don’t have to live in a cabin in the woods to enjoy it, either. A simple smile and wave to a stranger can make their day, and yours. Knowing that love is the strongest force in the universe, and spending a little time doing little but relaxing and observing life around you. Sharing it with family can heal the heart and bring meaning to the madness going on around you. May God bless you as he has me, may you find peace, love, and meaning to your life.

--Mike