Late Friday I was hit with a stomach ailment while I was out shopping with the kids. I didn't have my car; we had taken the bus. As my stomach lurched and clenched, I knew negotiating public transit and walking home from the bus stop was not an option, so I dialed my cell phone and called E at work.

"Good afternoon. This is Mr.E, how can I help you?" he answered. And the instant I heard his voice, I relaxed just a bit and rested in its familiarity. All at once, I was struck by what an enormous blessing it is to have someone you can call, someone you can count on, someone who will drop everything and come retrieve you from a Metro stop on a Friday afternoon. E has been taking my calls since I was 17, and it's easy to take for granted what that really means. With my stomach talking to me, a headache blooming, and my heart fluttering out of rhythm, there was nothing sweeter to hear than E's voice.

My stomach ailment improved over the weekend but then suddenly took a bad turn last night. Despite my frequent battles with insomnia, I managed to sleep with Petey perched on my tender belly, purring a lullaby. My sometimes surly son came in to my bed this morning to cuddle up with me and give me a big "Mama Hug." E slipped up the stairs and came back into the bedroom and kissed my sleeping self goodbye before leaving for work. My daughter, ever nurturing, made me a cup of tea when I got up, and my doctor was able to see me early in the day and alleviate my fears with a course of action.

It's not every day you get doctor's orders to eat buttered toast. On the kitchen counter, we have a big loaf of bread that was baked over a wood fire in Mons. I was happy to have an excuse to have a slice or two (or three!).

The kiddos were good citizens today, kind to one another and to me. I found two movies for them at the rental place. E-Grrrl bought a new Archie comic, I ordered their favorite pizza for them using a gift certificate, and they split a bag of M & Ms. After enduring the Crabby Days of Summer, we had a lot of peace and love flowing at Chez V today. She Who is Sensitive to Positive Energy was pleased.

Lately me Inbox has brought a quite a lot of letters from readers, many whom I've never "met" or corresponded with before.  The connections we forge in the blogosphere delight me. I love the way we support one another in ways that are both tangible and intangible. Writing a blog post is a bit like launching an arrow into space with your eyes closed. Getting positive feedback is knowing that despite everything going on in the world, some how your words found their  target.

So despite doctor's appointments and trips to the pharmacy, life is good here on ths Monday in cool rainy Belgium. I hope it's good where you are too.

August 20, 2007