Scattered across the country

I often imagine one end of each of eight invisible threads attached to my heart, the other ends attached to my children, children-in-law, and grandchildren. I feel the tug of a single thread, or the rhythmic tugging of several threads when my thoughts drift to one or more of the kids. Most of the time, the tugs are light and sweet, like when I think about Charlie and Angie relaxing on a Sunday afternoon, or the softness of Miles' skin, or the way Hannah smiles with her entire body. There have been persistent and disconcerting tugs at times, like when one of them is ill or under stress.

This weekend, eight tugs came at once, all of them from not-the-usual locations. Annie's thread stretched all the way to Florida, where she was attending a conference and having a reunion with Aunt Mary and Cousin Matt. It's almost the anniversary of Molly's accident and death; Annie's presence lightened Mary's and Matt's hearts.

Charlie and Angie took their threads to Fargo, ND, and carried them 26 miles to finish the Fargo Marathon. So Far to Go. Congratulations Chuck and Aunchie! We can't wait to read your blog accounts of the race!

Today, Elisabeth, Evan, and Hannah were pulling their threads to San Diego, and I imagined tugs as they flew from NC to CA, where Evan will be attending a conference, and Elisabeth and Hannah will visit a friend and talk to the animals at the San Diego Zoo.

Tanner and Miles didn't stray too far from O-Town, bringing their threads to St. Peter to stay overnight with Grandma Doreen and Grandpa Dave, then entertaining Grandpa Larry and me this afternoon before heading home to greet Annie.

Eventually all eight threads will return to their usual locations. In the meantime, I'm remaining hyper-vigilant for even the gentlest tug.

"Let me tell you a little secret, Miley..."