Bad moon on the rise

It feels like there has been a bad moon on the rise in Jack-land for the past several weeks. First, our fence blew down in the last big rain we had. Several hundred dollars later, we finally had a new one. Our dishwasher became increasingly temperamental. Several hundred dollars later, we finally had a new one. The beater bar in our vacuum cleaner stopped spinning, rendering the entire thing nonfunctional. Several hours of Tom's time later, we had it back working. Our washing machine very recently started leaking. Status still questionable.

Then the big one: About a month ago, Tom was rear-ended by someone who confused her brake with her gas. She pushed Tom's car into the one ahead of him, so there was extensive damage on both ends. After several weeks of back and forth with the insurance company, we were finally informed that the car is a total loss. So now we have the wonderful prospect of spending several thousand dollars to purchase a replacement ahead of us, to say nothing of all the time already spent hassling with our insurance.

But still with all that, I feel I need to take the time and be grateful for what I do have. As I type, one baby I know is in the hospital recovering from a frightening knee surgery. Another one I know is undergoing chemotherapy that her poor parents have to administer themselves. This cold and flu season has been the worst in my experience as a parent. We have friends who have contracted pneumonia, suffered through sinus and double ear infections, and had terrible bouts of diarrhea and vomiting.

Even though it feels like everything is breaking around me, all those things are exactly that - things. Our family has stayed relatively healthy, with only a few minor colds (KNOCK WOOD). It makes me think of those commercials for St. Jude's Hospital: "Be thankful for the healthy kids in your life."

I most definitely am.