You Never Know Who You'll Meet at the County Clerk's Office

This month Nadia was due for new tags so I took Shay with me to go through emissions testing and to the County Clerk's office to get said tags. By the way, Nadia is our Ford Taurus. Why yes, we name our cars after big names in gymnastics...we also have Bela (my Kia Sportage) and my first car was Mary Lou. But I digress.

I don't know why I thought the line would be short at the County Clerk's office. Perhaps I was overly optimistic after zipping through emissions testing with no wait. Let's just say that I'm glad we got there when we did because the line was literally out the door by the time we left. We didn't have a ton of people in front of us but a couple of those folks had lengthy issues to resolve. So we waited.

Shay was a SO GOOD. You know those times you're out in public and someone's kid just says and does the most adorable things that make you smile?  Yeah, that day, that was my kid. It's those moments that make up for the times she has been THAT kid (the kid with the other kind of behavior that makes those who don't have kids say that they're either never going to have them or that they would never let their future child(ren) behave that way and those who do have kids give their sympathetic looks while silently being thankful that this time it's not their child causing the ruckus).

Shay was the only child in line with a bunch of adults and she repeatedly said, in her sweet little voice, "Mommy, you're my best friend. I love you." When I picked her up, she gave me kisses and repeated it a few more times, garnering some "Aww's" and smiles from those in line.  After awhile, I noticed the woman in line in front of us kept turning and smiling at Shay. Eventually, Shay said something about one of her boo-boo's.  The kind woman turned around and told her that she had boo-boo's too.  She lifted one leg of her pants above her knee to reveal some pretty bad scabs from a nasty fall.  Instantly her and Shay became buddies, talking to and making faces at each other as the time passed.

Eventually, the kind woman explained that she fell down in the parking garage at her work. She has been undergoing chemotherapy for cancer and said, with a smile, that she just gets very tired sometimes and her legs give out.  In fact, she was there to get a handicapped parking permit.  I told her that I was sorry she was having to undergo chemo and that my dad had to do the same. She enthusiastically said that she wasn't going to let cancer get the better of her and that she was going to beat it.  She even said that she hadn't wanted to get a handicapped permit until she had taken the fall.  When I asked her what kind of cancer she had, she said that she was diagnosed with kidney cancer and that the specific kind she had was among the rarest of cancers.  Amazingly, she joked (with that same big smile she had while playing with Shay), "Leave it to me to get a rare cancer!"

At this point it was her turn to go up to a window and she brightly greeted the clerk. Once she was finished, she walked back over toward Shay and me and said, "I'll be praying for your dad!" I was blown away.  I told her that we'd be praying for her too. And we have. And I will continue to do so. And I ask that you would too if you think of it.

I left without having gotten her name, but I will not forget her genuinely positive spirit, the way she took the time to play with Shay and the care she had for a stranger's dad even in the midst of her own difficult physical battle.  Where others may succumb to fear, anger or depression (and understandably so), she chooses positivity and to love on others.  What an amazing soul!

Wherever you are, I am grateful to have met you.  I believe in miracles.  The little girl I held in my arms that you took the time to notice and play with is a one (one we didn't think we'd have).  I will be praying for your miracle.  And that you beat cancer just like you said you will.