Are You There Mom? It's Me, Julie.

In her death, my mom always promised, she would be where she was needed, just as she told us, "She always sent Joey to be with the famiy member who needed him most"...so as I drove, I looked at the sky for a sign that she was there...I thought I saw her rays in the sky, but prayed that it'd be more evident...I really needed to pass this test...and know she was there...she was my first phone call when I passed it the first time...

At the registration desk, I was greeted by a grumpy, 30-something woman, who sat in her chair sideways as she provided sign-in instructions.  I checked my purse into a locker and returned my acknowledgement form to "the woman" who asked me, "Who are you again?"  Hoping the service I received was not any indication on how I would do on the test, I followed her into the waiting room where she told me to have a seat.

The testing room door opened and a women in her early 60's smiled and politely continued with the check-in procedures; which included a security scan and checking my pockets.  She then led me to the desk where we sat down face-to-face.

"Oh, I am SO going to pass this test!" I told Gretchen as I viewed her nametag while she verified my ID's.

Dumbfounded, she looked at me, then not knowing how to respond said, "Oh...really?

"Yes," I exclaimed with a huge smile on my face, "my mother's name was Gretchen."

I should have never doubted my mother's presence, but sometimes...and she knew this...I just needed a more subtle sign.

I passed!

The Road Less Traveled

In my younger years, I was more like my father (although HE would never admit it, even though everyone in my immediate family told us so...I can only smile when I remember his response, "I am not like HER!")  My mom would always tell me, "There is no one more righteous than your father."  It's true.  He fought every battle in which he felt his values were being compromised,  he never faltered in his beliefs and stood firm to what he believed in...and you never wanted to make him mad, although, I, (and my siblings) were pretty good at that one...(in our younger years)

Fast forward to present day and a funny thing happened, or so my brother-in-law, Tony thinks...and I found real joy in his response of, "Wow, you have really softened in your old age!" and he laughed (a lot) and even retold this story...

While in Mexico we boarded our two dogs.  Upon return of picking them up, I was greeted with, "We weren't sure if we should have called you on vacation...but...Schnapps got in the way of a another dog's bite and had to receive stitches in his left ear.  When he shook his head it looked like a war zone in here.  We were able to get him in to YOUR vet...it happened Friday and he's recovered well.  It wasn't his fault, at all.  He was just in the wrong place at the wrong time." 

OK, no big deal.  Until..."Now about the vet bill...we are asking that you pay half of the it. (and boarding costs)."  Stunned from being asked...and in the presence of my daughters...I stared blankly and wrote out the check of what we owed, plus half the vet bill. 

Erika leaves, goes to the car with the dogs and tells Chuck what happened.  I get in the car and Chuck looks at me in disbelief and angrily asks, "You REALLY didn't just pay half the vet bill, did you?"  "Yep, I can't believe it either," I responded.  "It's not right, I'm tired.  I'll call them about it later..." We remained quiet and didn't discuss it further as we listened to the joy of the dogs and girls being reunited.

When we got home, Schnapps' left eye was draining green goop, the same side as the stitches...Monday came and I called the vet asking for an RX for his eye, from an obvious infection.  Unfortunately, I had to bring him in and scheduled something for Tuesday morning.  $37.46, later, I left the vet.

Calmly, I picked up the phone and called the place were we boarded the dogs.  After identifying myself and Schnapps, I begin to say that I felt they should be responsible for the entire vet bill and that now, I sit with an additional vet bill in the amount of $37.46 from an eye infection on the same side as his stitches.  I was then asked if the vet stated the eye infection was a result of the stitches/dog bite?  Since I asked the vet, I gave him the same response I received, "Can't be sure, he could have just gotten something in his eye that irritated it, but I noticed it Sunday night."  He then asks if I signed the waiver before boarding the dogs that explains there would be some inherent risks to boarding.  I respond that I had, but still believe they should be responsible for the entire vet bill, because as he explained to me, "Schnapps was at no fault."  He responded that he would refund me what I had paid for the vet bill,  "Did I want to pick it up today or should he mail it?"  I asked that he mail it, thanked him and hung up.

A few days later, I received the refund AND an the additional $37.46.

As I age, my sister-in-law, Kathy tells me, I am the most like my mother.  (God, love her!) and in this circumstance, I believe I handled the situation just like my mother would have.  But, had I not gotten the results that warranted what was right, Dad would have stepped up to the plate and gotten the results I needed!