There is nothing funnier as a parent then seeing your
adult children unconsciously mimic you. My oldest daughter, Megan, can be
heard using my favorite words, “Well, I don’t hate it” when she is uncertain
about how she feels. And Aileen teases me but still says, “Surely
you jest!” when speaking with friends.
I seem to have a never-ending collections of catch
phrases. These quick-witted sayings come flying out of my mouth –
too many to even count. They are from old movies, TV shows or expressions
I heard as a child. Every time someone breaks or
destroys anything around the house, you’ll most assuredly hear me
scream, “This is why we can’t have nice things!” And I’m
known to yell, “Immediately if not sooner” when my nagging has gone
unanswered. The other day my son’s girlfriend, Jillian, asked why he
always kids around saying, “What is your major malfunction?” KC
thought a moment – then said, “my mom always says that!”
But lately, I've noticed my overuse of a certain catch
phrase. A friend is sick and I immediately say, “Lets bring
her flowers – it’s the least we can do.” Or we are
driving over a bridge, pouring down rain with an evening sky on fire
with lightening; as Ken grips the steering wheel I say, "well at
least there is no wind tonight.” And just yesterday
I announced, "I'm eating this burger without a bun - it's the
least I can do to lose weight"
Ken is quick to mumble, “and no one will ever say YOU
didn't do the least!” When I think about it the
least is a poor excuse for doing close to nothing. It
sounds small and of no consequence.
From my overuse of this expression, I’ve come to
understand that sometimes the very least is all I can
accomplish. Simply completing one task for the day has me feeling pretty good.
Multiple Sclerosis has lifted the burden of multi-tasking and replaced it
with an acceptance of the least. And in my world, that
really isn’t small or inconsequential.
Now mind you, the month of June marks the anniversary of
the first symptom and diagnosis of this disease. It happened 9 years
ago and acceptance has come as slowly as its progression. More often
than not, the only suitable response to the harshness of each new affliction is
to accept the least. But not in a lie down and
take it sort of way. Never! The trick is to accept the struggle
while never letting it overshadow the possibilities found in the
day. Sometimes peace is found in the compromise of what seems
small.
“Get busy living or busy dying.”
I’m fighting like hell to keep busy enjoying the
ride. And that means living a full, large life challenging myself
every step of the way.
After all, that's the least I can
do.
