I wasn't even going to write a post today.....

The title of today's blog is 100% true.  I had no intention of blogging today.  When it comes to my blog, I planned to look over tomorrow's entry before I posted it, but there was really no idea for a new one today.  However, we do not always know when and where our ideas come from.  We sometimes find inspiration in what may seem like a simple exchange between two people.  That is what happened to me this morning.

Normally, my husband drops our girls off at school.  Today, he had an early meeting, so I not only drove them to school, but I actually walked them inside to their classrooms.  While escorting my seven year old down the hall full of children's voices, giggles, parents talking to teachers, normal morning chaos, a man approaches me.  He asks, "Are you a Harless?"  "Harless" is my maiden name.  After you have been married for a certain length of time, you forget that there are people who do not know you any other way.  So, I replied, "Yes..."  It was obvious to this man that I could not quite place who he was.  He smiled and said, "I'm Brad B----- (name withheld to protect the bloggless).  I was on the Force with your dad."  I instantly knew him then.  Of course I knew him, because his kids went to the same school as me and my siblings.  Growing up, our families also went to the same church.  We had gone to their home a few times and all hung out.  Also, I thinks cops' kids have a bond.  There is something  unique about knowing what it is like to have a parent who is in law enforcement.  An even stronger bond is the one that cops who are friends have for those other officer's children.  Looking at Brad, my mind instantly took 30 years off his face, filled in his gray hair with a darker shade of brown, and I hugged him.  We hugged a long time.  I was so surprised I didn't cry.  When we stopped hugging, I could not help but to put my hands on his cheeks.  "It's like seeing my dad."  He just smiled, and I thought he was going to get emotional.  I introduce him to my youngest daughter who smiled and then made her way to her class.  I inquired why he was there since I knew he did not have any children in elementary school (his children are in their 40's like me and my siblings). He explained he was with his grandson's girlfriend this morning.  Her little one goes to pre-K and then he was dropping her off where she was heading to.  This young woman walks up to us, and Brad puts his arm around me to introduce me to her.  It was almost like he was proud to tell her who I was.  He was proud to say he worked with my dad.  He was proud to know me.  I waited until I got in my car before I started to cry.

There are times that God, or Spirit, or Buddah, or Karma gives you a sign that things are good.  They can be huge, obvious signs that hit you in the face like a brick.  Sometimes they happen when you are just dropping your daughters off at school.  I felt my dad today.  He tapped me on the shoulder when Brad asked me if I was a "Harless."  I felt his lips on my cheek as his old friend kissed and hugged me.  And, I felt like he was proud of me as I was introduced to a total stranger. 

I would like to thank my dad for a great Valentines' Day.  I love you.