Shout out to Cathi

I have been hanging out all day trying to figure out what I am “supposed” to do with all my new found time. Katie is gone all day. I have wandered around the house like a lost sheep. I spent some time in prayer this morning but really couldn’t settle in. I tried to write for a while but that didn’t work either. I cooked a good dinner and wasted time on the Internet.

Around 2 pm the phone rang; it was Cathi, my sister in law. I was so happy to hear her voice. I’ve known Cathi most of my life. I remember her in elementary school. She was a couple years older than me. She was a cool, tough girl. Something about her always stayed in my head. So when I started dating her brother, I felt a bit intimidated by her. I don’t ever recall us having a conversation for years. I’d see her at family gatherings, but there wasn’t much connection. One of my real regrets in life is that we skipped her wedding because our corporate busyness was more important. Those are the things you do when you are young that you are totally horrified by later in life.

After we moved out to California, we started seeing Cathi and her boys on a regular basis. Much to my surprise, she and I had much in common. She is a deeply spiritual person and somehow when we chatted I had the sense we understood each other on a deep level. Last year she was going through a pretty dark period and I had the honor being present with her during that time. It was a gift to have a family member be so real, so messy and allow me to bear witness to that moment. That night I learned that in families we don’t have to hide our tears and our pain.

I was reminded today when Cathi called, what a gift she has become in my life and how much I respect her courage. In a weird twist of fate, she too is taking a period in her life to reassess and take a new path. It was great to chat with her about the loneliness of slowing down.

So today I say thanks for Cathi and the love and light that she has brought to me and to Mary, Katie and Bob. Thanks for letting us share in your journey. You are on your way!