a moment in time...

There will always be moments in our lives that we remember. Moments that move us... change us... impact our lives.

My first of such moments came 36 years ago -- this week.

I was 5.5 years old. I walked up to the community pool with my 2 older sisters and some neighbor kids. We played. We splashed. We went down the slides. And after a day in the sun we went to a neighbor's house for some TV. It amazes me that at 5.5 years old I was allowed to do this without adult supervision. My older sisters were 7 and 10. Ladybug is 5.5 years old. The exact same age I was at that time. I haven't even decided if she will have any unsupervised time prior to going away to college.

So why does this day stick in my mind as life altering? I think I can say that it is easily the day in my life that has impacted my life the most. It changed everything. My life had been cruising along on one path and it was instantly thrown onto another. You see, as I played in the water and sun and had the carefree life of a child that day... my father died.

He died in an accident at work. With a co-worker. The irony of the situation is that he was not somebody who was good at keeping a job. He hadn't been at the job for long. It was an accident. But, none the less, he died.

This is the single event that led to ... my life. It was the event that led to me being placed in foster care. It is the event that led to me being separated from 5 of my 6 siblings. It is the event that led me to being placed for adoption. And each one of those changes eventually led me to ... me. To being an opinionated, passionate, independent, single, working mother. This event led me to Ladybug. I am sure I would be none of those things if that event had not happened.

Who knew that a single event could be the turning point? And yes, these are all MY memories. It reminds me that even though she is only 5.5 years old she will remember things years from now. And it makes me wonder what event will be her turning point.

Mean Mama