I've had a couple of experiences in the recent past that have made me think about how brave I am.
I haven't always felt being brave was necessary for me. After all, I have this big, strong husband and five equally as strong sons who would, I'm certain, protect me with their lives –– no matter what the circumstances.
However, the need for my being brave has come to mind very recently. The possibility that I may have to protect my loved ones has been impressed on me in a big way.
The other evening, my granddaughter was visiting. We did a few little decorating projects around the house –– she likes to help grandma put up pictures and all that.
We had settled down to watch the Newlywed Game. It was quiet in the house because Grandpa had gone out on the porch to swing.
As we sat there –– relaxing –– watching TV and visiting during the commercials, something started swooping through the living room.
I know I wrote a column several years ago about the bat swooping around the house and how we bravely took charge of the nasty, pesky rodent. Well, one of his cousins had decided to grace us with his presence on this quiet evening.
I noticed him first and decided to just sit there –– not say anything –– so it wouldn't scare Auburn –– who has learned to be a sissy from the best –– her mother. But of course, she noticed.
She screamed, "What's that?!!"
I had to be honest. I mean, who lies to their granddaughter? So I told her it was JUST a bat.
Auburn continued to scream. Not the small scream of a little girl who just watched "Hocus Pocus" on Disney Channel. But the horrified screech of a 10-year-old who's been watching a combination of "The Exorcist" and "Pet Semetary."
As the brave grandmother I am, I sat very, very still. I told Auburn –– well, I had to kind of scream at her because she was screaming so loudly herself –– to cover her head with the blanket she was using.
I sat there watching as the bat swooped north, south, east and west through the living room. He/she occasionally left the living room to investigate other areas of the house.
I yelled for Roger to come take Auburn out to the porch to recuperate from her trauma. He was swinging peacefully and really didn't want to be bothered, of course, so he ignored me. Such a supportive man!
