it was something like shrapnel

1. Yesterday I decided to take advantage of being "in town" and Gulliver and I went grocery shopping. I clearly am still not aware of the limits of my body these days because we had just entered the second (and last) store when an almost unbearable sciatica pain took over my right leg. I didn't know how I was going to be able to move but was only 15 feet from the dairy section (our destination) and so just slowly, slowly, shuffled one foot in front of the other to progress down the aisle. I was leaning pretty heavily on the shopping cart and was sort of hunched over the part of the cart where Gulliver was sitting. I wasn't making any noise or saying anything to him, but clearly my pain was evident on my face because he started making the sign for sad and saying "mommy mommy mommy" and then signing sad. Then he reached up his little hands and put one on each of my cheeks and started softly patting my face. It was the most tender thing. He also offered several hugs, but could really only reach my head so he just hugged that and then went back to patting my cheeks. I was amazed that he could see that I was hurting and wanted to offer comfort. I am grateful that Gulliver is kind like his father.

2. I am grateful for visiting teachers who live fairly close by and are willing to help out when I have a need.

3. I am grateful that, if you go a long enough time without eating the name-brand potato chips, generic-brand potato chips taste pretty great.