Did I mention Cross Country has started?

I had the nicest surprise at picking the kids up from cross country today. There was a mom there who said that she had to talk to me! After most of the other moms had cleared away, she re-introduced herself. We had met a few years ago at the cemetery. Her little boy, Austin, is buried next to my Raphael.

It turns out that when Austin was alive, he loved the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and his favorite was Raphael! So she thought it was quite something that her little boy would be sharing space until the end of time with another little Raphael.

It gave her comfort and I rather liked that coincidence too. It seems that all things really do work together for good!

Anyway, what I really enjoyed today was discovering that her younger son is running on the cross country team with my kids! We introduced them to each other. “Kid’s!! You remember little Austin out in the cemetery? This is his brother! He is your teammate!” Austin’s mom did the same for her runner. All of the children had that understanding and that nod of, “Oh yes? I know your brother in a way!” It was like a special bond or something. It’s hard to explain.

Equally hard to explain is why this gives me such a good feeling. It’s sort of like little like it strengthens a bond between between this life and the next? between Austin’s mom and me? maybe it makes Austin and Raphael seem more alive and present? I don’t know but I have felt happy about it all morning and it gives me a new enthusiasm for our cross country season!