The downward spiral

I heard it in her voice, this friend of mine. The downward spiral drew her in ... slowly ... painfully. Confined her movements. Suppressed logical thinking. The reflection in the mirror was a stranger.

I remember how it felt. You will your feet to move. It's futile. You feel as if fingers wrap around your throat, cutting off the screams, straining your breath. Silence is deafening. You yearn for someone to throw you a lifeline but lack the courage to ask.

This goes on ... and on ... and on. You spiral farther down ... down ... down, until you hit bottom. Only then do you hear the whisper ... I am here, reach out, I am hear, I will help you.

Your inner voice coaxes you forward. And, like the snap of a rubber band, you spring out of the spiral and into the light.

Warm. Embracing. Comforting. Light ... where you find Freedom. Movement. Voice. Strength.

Yourself.

And, me without my camera

Seen today on a fast-food chain restaurant's sign:

BACK FOR LIMITED
ENGAG MENT
$1 DOUBLE CHEESE

I didn't have my camera with me to capture the moment. (That's a first!) And, I truly hope someone there knows the Heimlich maneuver.

"Would you like to buy ..."

First grade for Wonder Child also means he's now old enough to venture into the world of Boy Scouts as a Tiger Cub. We attended our first pack meeting a couple of weeks ago and received our first order of business ... popcorn sales.

At the meeting, the leaders regaled the boys with the "how-to" of popcorn sales and tossed in a "how-not-to" video with "bad boys" that seemed to make a significant impression on Wonder Child.

This afternoon, after he got home from the weekend with his dad, I suggested he put on his uniform shirt and hat (not a lot of arm-twisting required there!) so we could walk through our neighborhood selling popcorn.

I walked with him to all of the houses, but I hung back and let him do all the selling. I wanted to see what he would do with the experience. But, mostly, I wanted the success to be his, not mine.

I have to say I was near tears with pride a couple of times, listening to him give his sales pitch:

"Hi, my name is __, and I live just down the street. Would you like to buy some Boy Scout popcorn? The money helps our pack with our Pinewood Derby and going to summer camp. And, it helps Boy Scouts all around the world!"

He wasn't overly discouraged when the answer was "no" at the first house. (We don't know those neighbors very well.) And, the next eight houses were a smashing success! (Never mind the three neighbors who weren't home - we're headed back there this week.)

I realized his confidence was increasing when he added lines: "You can order as many as you want to," or "You can order whichever one you want."

Granted, he has the "cuteness" factor working in his favor, and he looks pretty darn sharp in his uniform shirt. But, most of all, he made the effort so sincerely and seriously. And, he thanked everyone without prompting from me.

At one point, as we were walking between houses, he asked, "Am I doing what the bad boys in the video did?"

I reassured him, "Absolutely not - you're doing everything right."

Would you like to buy some popcorn? I can arrange for the cutest little Tiger Cub to appear on your doorstep. He'll charm your socks off!