Life is full of surprises. I don’t know why we should be surprised.
I was in the delivery room when our first son was born. He came into the world red and wrinkly and icky and not very happy with the situation. Caught up in the wonder of human birth, I was not prepared when the attending nurse suddenly turned to me and said, “We’re going to let the father take him down to the nurse’s station and weigh him.” Then, she handed him to me. What a package! I held him closely as I walked to the nurse’s station. 8 lbs. 15 ¼ ounces. That was the first of many surprises he would afford me in the coming years.
My son, Joseph, and I have a modest cattle herd. Being old school, I prefer to check on them every day, but that is not always possible. The demands of my job make it almost impossible. Most of our calves come in the spring, usually in March and April. Occasionally, a few cows will “catch up” and calve in January or February. Last fall was especially busy, and I hardly checked on the cows at all. I must say I was surprised when I looked in on the cows in November to find 5 new baby calves! I concluded the herd bull must have been on the job. I have learned to expect the unexpected.
My brother, John, is becoming a master gardener. Access to the internet has opened up a whole new world of gardening ideas for him and daughter, Olivia. This year he planted late butter beans, squash, and tomatoes. He was anxious that the butter beans would “make” before frost, but they did thanks to some creative harvesting. He gave me a call a few days before the first frost to inform me green tomatoes were still available, but in jeopardy. I took him up on the offer.
I was surprised to find myself canning green tomato pickle on November 25, two days after Thanksgiving Day, 2023. Who would have thought it? Another surprise.
I received a call from the wife of a dear friend at 10:00 PM last Wednesday evening. He had been admitted to the hospital and was facing emergency surgery the next day. If I had been making a list of the healthiest people I knew within 10 years of my age, he would have been high on my list. If I had been making a list of my friends whose health might have been in jeopardy, he would have been close to last. It is the kind of surprise which brings you to your knees. We never know.
I have another friend who is in law enforcement. He’s been a police officer/detective, career type. One day he was waiting in the drive-up line at a fast-food establishment. A woman in front of him was taking an excruciatingly long time to place her order. He grew impatient. She continued to order. He became exasperated. Her ordering dragged on. Finally, she finished. He pulled forward to place his. At the “pay” window she, again, took extra time. He was at his wits end. She finally moved on. He stopped to pay.
“The lady in front of you paid for your lunch, sir!” said the young lady taking payment, cheerfully. “She said, ‘Have a nice day, and thanks for your service.’” Surprise, surprise!
I suggest to my friends to tuck away a 5 or a 10 or a 20 or even a 100-dollar bill in your wallet or purse, and look for opportunities to give it away this Holiday season. If you are going to be in on a surprise, let it be a pleasant one!
Copyright 2023 by Jack McCall
