Keep a Tight Rein

     Raised to ‘watch out for snakes’ while growing up, it is hard to not predict the future 24/7. Add to that the fact that I have been feeling a little blue this week since we returned from a road trip, and the connection of the two is clear to me- how about you?

     For those of you who have read my dice throwing musings, hang in there- there is a point.

     Growing up in the country, especially on a South Texas ranch, really did warrant walking with your head down watching for snakes- as my father directed.

      I believe everything he has ever said.  He is a man of too few words to do otherwise.

     This practicality can have a cost- a contraindication if you will.  You begin to think you really do have powers beyond your natural capability.

Examples (some I have shared previously)

*sitting in restaurants with your back to the wall- in case you need to shoot your way out (I do not carry a gun, but I can act like I do.)

*scanning high school classrooms, somehow knowing something is not quite right

*scanning high school classrooms, hallways, bus duty stations planning the best avenue of escape or rescue for your students-

*having instincts so finely tuned from years of being a wife, mother, daughter, friend, and high school English teacher , these instincts begin to sort of short out, re-wired hormonally and emotionally

and the biggest whopper of all-

*being a mind reader

     In my blueness this week, I have taken back just about every worry I can think of from God’s sturdy, perfectly capable hands. What an understatement.

     The solution- in addition to handing them back to You Know Who?

     Why acting on an axiom of my upbringing of course:

“Keep a tight rein.”  my father