I saw this video, called The Miracle of Love this morning by one of my favorite musical divas; Annie Lennox. When I get my hair cut, I often ask for it be styled like hers, since it has a wild woman, punky, faerie-esque look to it and I wonder if I can experience that feeling vicariously even if I am not always quite there in my daily life.  Her voice beckoned me into the day. As I am typing these words, sweet aromas are wafting from the kitchen and sweet sounds from the living room. The first is emanating from the pancakes that my son Adam is making and the second from a two year munchkin who has captured my heart. He is the son of Adam’s girlfriend. Both of them danced into our lives a few months ago. A bright young woman, she has led my sometimes self doubting son into a greater sense of confidence and responsibility. I have never witnessed him being happier than he is with her. Ironically, although over the years, he has balked at some of the values and beliefs of his ‘hippie mother’, Rochelle and I have much in common. She initiates hugs when she comes into the house to visit and when she is on her way out the door. She is studying psychology and we have had many conversations about all kinds of related topics. She is the first young woman he has dated that he actually invites me to spend time with, although, to tweak me, he still refers to me as ‘weird’. Her son, an adorable  brown haired munchkin, delights in Elmo and Mickey, dancing, clapping, hugging, counting (he can count up to 20)  and BUBBLES!  My kind of kid.  He seems never to tire of having one of us blow bubbles and then cavorting in the midst of them, calling them to play, as he pops them.  Last night I did the first of what I imagine will be many babysitting gigs, when they went out for her birthday. He and I hung out a bit before the porta-crib was set up and filled with his stuffed buddies and fleece blankets. Flannel footie pj’s with monkeys decocrating them were his sleeping attire. A sound sleeper, thank goodness; I checked on him a few times throughout the night; it’s been a long time since I have needed to do that, since my son is 25. Whenever Adam or Rochelle point to me and ask “Who’s that?”, he will call out “Mom-Mom!” exuberantly. Not sure I’m ready to be a grandmother, but if this little one want to refer to me with that honorific, I am indeed honored.

Adam and I had a sometimes tough road to hoe, since being widowed at 40 ( he was 11), I have raised him solo. With all the hub-bub about single parenting since last week’s debate, I can assure you that guns and violence have no place in our home, Adam doesn’t smoke,  has never had a problem with drugs and alcohol, he graduated high school, has been in the working world since he was 18, has aspirations of culinary school, is a self taught cook (and he does it well, I can attest to that, as can family and friends who have indulged in his creations)  and first and foremost, has a good heart. We still butt heads occasionally, since some of our socio-political views are a bit at odds; although I wonder if he sometimes says what he does to bait his left of center, tree hugging, flower child, enviro-conscious mother. Our housekeeping standards are s0metimes polar opposite…how hard is it, I wonder, to put dishes in the dishwasher, rather than leave them on the counter or in the sink, when both are a mere inches from their target destination? Is it too much to ask that cabinet doors are closed once opened or the toilet seat be put down when not in use?  I think not. Humor helps in almost all cases. And when in doubt, I will remember the words to this song~

The Miracle of Love

How many sorrows

Do you try to hide

In a world of illusions

That’s covering your mind ?

I’ll show you something good

Oh I’ll show you something good.

When you open your mind

You’ll discover the sign

That there’s something

You’re longing to find…

The miracle of love

Will take away your pain

When the miracle of love

Comes your way again.

Cruel is the night

That covers up your fears.

Tender is the one

Who wipes away your tears.

There must be a bitter breeze

To make you sting so viciously-

They say the greatest coward

Can hurt the most ferociously.

But I’ll show you something good

Oh I’ll show you something good.

If you open your heart

You can make a new start

When your crumbling world falls apart.

The miracle of love

Will take away your pain

When the miracle of love Comes your way again.

The miracle of love

Will take away your pain

When the miracle of love

Comes your way again.

http://youtu.be/yOGD1WkJJok  The Miracle of Love-Eurythmics