Three Wishes

(A post for SundayScribblings)

What would you do if you had three wishes?

Have you ever stopped to think about why the whole concept of three wishes has been around for so long? Do you wonder who came up with the original idea? We have the idea of finding the Magic Lamp and rubbing it. We all keep an eye out at the beach for the bottle that has washed up on the shore waiting to be uncorked. I Dream of Genie still runs in syndication (OK....Barbara Eden was hot so maybe that is why that show endured).

Perhaps three wishes is what starts you on your path to what would make life better. As I look back over the different times of my life, I can't remember what my wishes have ever been. This would lead me to believe that I either didn't play the three wishes game or the wishes didn't seem to have enough meaning that they were worth remembering.

But there is no doubt how I would answer the question now. Or that it will ever change again.

I have been well cared for on this trip on the orb. I don't really know if I was born into poverty but our family wasn't that far from it. Yet, once the surprise of my arrival and early responsibilities of caring for me passed, my mom re-entered the work force to address our socio-economic situation. It wasn't long between that time and having the great fortune of a train blowing up our house that my parents had established themselves solidly as part of the middle class. While I can't say that it would have been something that I would have wished for, a train blowing up your house is so improbable that it seems like the only way that it could happen is through an act of divinity. That incident was a major turning point in my life and I often comment that it was one of the best things that ever happened to me. No, it's not the only piece of good fortune. It's far from it. My record with good fortune is pretty solid.

And it leads me to a simple request.

Yes, ONE simple request.

I have been so well taken care of that, if I can be granted my wish, you can have the other two and use them yourself or give them to someone that needs them more than me.

Give me one day back with my mom. Just give me one day. Let me wrap my arms around her tiny little frame. Squeeze her until it hurts and give her a big kiss. Let me tell her all of the things that I have discovered about her since she was taken away so quickly and unexpectedly 4 years ago. Let me tell her how much I appreciate the sacrifices that she made. Let me tell her how it has only been since her passing that I have unearthed her secrets and how she overcame what so many people today use as excuses. Let me tell her that she has held it in long enough. It's time to have a good cry. And, while she and I were having that first cry, let me tell her, "you done good! You have done so good." And, after we cried a puddle of tears, and when she wanted to cut it short so she could go grab the mop to clean them up, let me tell her, "leave the mess alone. It will still be there tomorrow. I'll take care of it then. Today, we bask in the joy of you overcoming what you overcame to raise three boys and not allow what happened to you as a child ever happen to any of us. Mom, we only have one day. Let's not waste a moment on something as trivial as wiping up the floor. I have things to tell you....like how much I love you. I know, mom, you aren't used to hearing it. None of us are used to saying it."

Yes, give me one day like that and take my other two wishes. Send me a note and tell me what you did with the surplus yearnings that I passed along. I'll make sure that I tell your story along to my mom. After all, they weren't my wishes to give. My mom gave me everything that I needed so it was she that was responsible for my generosity. You have my address. I think she would enjoy hearing what her sacrifice did for you.