She gets it

I have to share a story from today. My apologies to my mom and Scott for not being able to share this story with them "live". I cried when it happened and I'm starting to tear up already. I know that sharing this moment in my life is going to be difficult for me. Bear with me.

Kate and I were out this evening. Before we left the house Scott suggested Chinese food for dinner. Not one to argue with an egg roll, I happily obliged.

When we arrived at the restaurant to pick up dinner there were a few people already waiting for their orders. Kate was her usual cute self. Asking questions, using her manners, saying "excuse me Mommy" before asking her question. She was being so well behaved.

There was one woman there in particular that Kate was drawn to. She was a woman in her 60's with a soft southern accent. She kind of reminded me of my Grams, I'm thinking she reminded Kate of her too because of the way Kate was naturally drawn to this woman.
While I paid the bill Kate and this woman chatted. Kate shared her age, her name and she was lamenting about how she wants to be 5 so she can ride in the big yellow school bus. This nice lady with all her southern charm just kept chatting with her.
Out of nowhere Kate says "my Daddy didn't come with to get our dinner." The lady asked if he was waiting at home. What Kate said next came as a little bit of a surprise to me.
Without hesitation Kate told the lady "My daddy is sick. He has a balloon in his leg and one in his tummy. They pop and make it so my daddy can't walk any more. He has a really cool wheelchair. It's not a red one anymore, it's black now."
Kate paused for a breath and I interjected. Telling the woman my token easy answer "My husband has a rare genetic disease that causes aneurysms. We've told her that they are like little balloons and sometimes they go pop in Daddy and we have to take him to the hospital."

As I look at this woman, I see tears in her eyes. She looks back at Kate and says. "My husband has a blood problem and he's in a wheelchair too. The doctors had to take part of his leg off so he could get better. Is your daddy getting better?"
This moment is forever paused in my heart. The words Kate spoke will stay with me forever. She was so calm. So matter of fact. So sweet and innocent.
She climbed on the chair next to the woman and said "Um, my daddy still talks and everything so he's still just like my daddy but now he can't walk. He's going to go to heaven soon and won't talk to me anymore. He'll still be my daddy, even when he's not here. Right mommy?"
There in that Chinese restaurant a stranger and I shared a tear. I pulled Kate onto my lap and told her she was absolutely right. That her daddy would always be her daddy and he would always love her and watch over her.
Kate mumbled something and scurried off my lap to look at the clown fish in the tank.
The woman watched her walk away and spoke the words that were in my heart, the words I could not say. "What an amazing little girl. She's got a beautiful soul."



She'll be ok. She gets it.