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Friday, January 28, 2011

Don't Sweat It.......Part 3 from Two Souls on Their Journey

Continuing: I had just asked a stranger, Marilyn, and her newborn baby to come live with me, my husband and four kids.

The baby cried during the drive home, making conversation impossible. For this I was grateful because it gave me time to think about how I could rearrange the beds. By the late hour Daryl came home, all sleeping arrangements had been taken care of and the baby, newly named Sara, was sleeping in a laundry basket beside her exhausted Mother. When I told my husband what I had done, he didn't seem at all surprised. He reassured me that if I thought it was the right thing to do, it was OK. WOW... Suddenly our family had increased to eight and a peaceful silence permeated the crowded house.

In a couple weeks, Marilyn was fully recovered and found a job. I was mostly stuck at home with kids all day, anyway, so what was one more baby? We fell into a routine and our life pretty much settled into normal. When Marilyn came home from work, we had a chance to talk and it felt like we had known each other all our lives. We talked and talked and talked and were able to laugh at anything. We were so much alike, in spite of the fact I was eight years older.

Harvey, the baby's Father, started coming over to see baby Sara. On weekends, he'd bring his guitar and singing buddies and entertain us. Daryl began guitar lessons and he and Harvey seemed to bond immediately. Marilyn was happy and I knew she still cared deeply for Harvey. She arranged a baptismal gathering with Daryl and me as god parents and invited her parents and Harvey's parents. Baby Sara was passed from Grandparent to Grandparent with gentle love. Marilyn's father, the proclaimed ogre, was giving out cigars like the baby was his idea. I felt a cold shiver when I thought how close Marilyn came to signing the papers that would have given Sara to another family. But now, Baby Sara would always be surrounded by family love.

Friday and Saturday nights, we'd get a sitter and listen to music on the West Bank or at the Purple Goblet. Bob Dylan, Bonnie Rait, Peter, Paul and Mary were getting known by singing for beer and peanuts. It was at one of these outings that Harvey proposed to Marilyn. They bought a house on Lake Minnetonka and settled into family life after the wedding. It was at Daryl's and my cabin in Northern Minnesota that Marilyn went into labor with their second baby. In a couple more years, they had a third...

We still kept in touch with the crowd from the Nic. Weddings, baptisms, and then time stretched into kid's graduations. We saw Marilyn and Harvey every weekend and Marilyn and I talked on the phone almost daily, a habit we have continued for fifty years.

Baby Sara is now fifty. Inheriting her Father's art and musical ability, she sings with a popular gospel group, that just returned from a tour of concerts in France. Her artistic ability is apparent in the tasteful jewelry she designs. Her business clientele is made up of movie stars and women of discerning taste. I'm not bragging nor do I want to be a name dropper, it's just that I'm so darn proud of her.

That's about it. How do you cram fifty years in a short post? If there's a moral to this story, I think it's........ don't question the Universe. She's got it all figured out and is way ahead of you.

There will be one more short sequel next post but this is pretty much the whole story.


Bob Dylan wrote "Blowin in the Wind" but it was made popular by Peter, Paul and Mary.

18 comments:

  1. Oh my goodness!! Baby Sara!! What a story - what a history!! Good grief!!! Manzanita - you are a STAR streaking a bright bold brilliant light across blogworld!! Wow.

    I'm still reeling at such a story. Wow.

    p.s. is that wonderful you in the pic heading your blog?!?!?!
    Take care
    x

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  2. Great story of friendship and love. Thanks!!!

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  3. Dear Manzanita, What an amazing and wonderful thing you did for a young girl and her baby. You have been and will be rewarded. I am sure of it. Gerry

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  4. Wow, I was hoping for a happy ending but life doesn't always allow us that. This time it did, mainly because you stepped in and Daryl embraced your decision.
    Totally wonderful how it all turned out and that you are still in eachother's lives.
    Wonderful series. Loved it.

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  5. Manzi: "[D]on't question the Universe." Fancy that.

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  6. "She has it all figured out and is way ahead of you." Oh Yeah... Love this story, love the pic of you in the header, too. Beautiful You.

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  7. Thanks Old Kitty,
    Whewww, that took a bit of purging, digging up those old memories. Yeah, me in my 60's.... check out the thick waist.

    Turquoisemoon,
    That baby was meant to be. It will turn out right.

    Dear Gerry,
    Thanks so much Gerry. I always think the old corny cliche.... But there for the grace of God go I. Any of our circumstances could be different. Now that this story is finished, I'm going to try to get the unknown child into my camera.

    Patti,
    Marilyn's sisters say that Marilyn and I are more like sisters (should be) than she and her sisters. Yes, life is amazing, ain't it?

    JJ,
    Fancy that?? Your tongue is poking your cheek out, Mister. Ha You're the original "listen to the Universe" man.

    Teresa,
    We always talk about our long time friends. Is this story something like the one with your best friend???

    Love you all, You leave such loving comments. Manzi

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  8. Manzanita, How wonderful to have a sister friend for all these years. There is nothing in the world like knowing, really knowing that someone has your back...no matter what :-) What a great love story. I sometimes tell clients that when they plant a seed of kindness,they may not have the privilege of witnessing the eventual bloom, but to rest assured, it will bloom. You have not only planted the seed...you're experiencing an abundant harvest! :-)Thanks so much for sharing it here. ~Blessings, Janet

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  9. What an awesome story. I don't question The Universe anymore. Make that: I try not to question The Universe anymore. I have had my fits and temper tantrums, and they have all been pointless, so I try to not go that route any more. Things happen for a reason. Period. Thank you for sharing this with us!

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  10. So amazing and inspiring! Your sharing will make it easier for us to trust the universe!!

    Have a wonderful weekend!!

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  11. Great story!
    I'm imagining the reaction I would've gotten if I brought home a stranger and her baby!
    What's so great is how well you got a long and stayed friends all these years!

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  12. Thank you for sharing that beautiful story and what a gift to have a friendship that has lasted through the years. That is rare.
    Please "keep on bloggin". I love your posts.
    Have a wonderful day!

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  13. Janet,
    Thank you for your meaningful words. Yes, I have been blessed with Marilyn as a friend for this half a century. You tell your client very wise things.

    Robin,
    We may not always know the reason at the time and that is what makes it so frustrating we we aren't trusting the Universe. Thanks for the good words.

    Red Nomad Oz,
    It's very scary to trust the Universe without a great deal of faith.

    Big D,
    It's been a wonderful re-connection with a soul. I am eternally grateful.

    Cherie,
    You are kind and encourage people. This is a gift and your kind heart shows in your rescue of pets and letting them become contented beautiful animals.

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  14. This is a beautiful story. You have every right to be proud of Sara and her wonderful life. She most certainly was a charmed baby and that charm seems to have stuck. I agree with you, we meet the people we are meant to meet. What we do with that is the next step. You obviously took the right step.

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  15. I love a happy ending, especially when it's an actual story. Yep, Manzi, yep. This is a wonderful story. Thank you for sharing it!

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  16. I so love a happy ending. I think that by you bringing them home, it gave Harvey time to figure out what he wanted/needed. Good for you!!

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