Five & 1/2 Hours Away

While I was driving over the beautiful Bay Bridge last week, I got the dreaded phone call. My daughters typically text me before calling, so a random phone call usually spells a car accident, or stomach flu type of emergency.

I think I always knew this call would come, because I pushed for my daughter to choose a college I could drive to in a reasonable amount of time. And, I got my way.

She blacked out in the shower and split her head open hitting the tile floor, she told me. I could picture the cool green tiles of the college dorm shower with the white grouting, the textured glass door, and the running water as she lay there unconscious.

“I’ll be right there,” I said calmly. I drove home and threw my clothes in the car. I arrived in Los Angeles at 10 p.m. and stayed for five days.

She looked pale, tired and scared. She was bruised and had butterfly stitches on the wound that ran through her right eye brow.

Three trips to the doctor for tests, some loving attention and she began to stabilize and look like herself again. Her skin again turned creamy and pink. Her blue-green eyes sparkled when she laughed. I followed her everywhere, and walked her to class. I had dinner in the student cafeteria with her friends.

She studied, and I worked on my laptop and had meetings with my pattern maker and production team in the nearby garment district.

I did her laundry and mopped her dorm room floor washing the blood away. Then, I brought her home with me. We drove through the Central Valley together. The valley is beautiful, with an intricate weather system and clouds that come in every color of the rainbow, and in countless shapes and sizes.

We played music. She slept. We talked. We’ve not been this close since she was in grade school.

Her doctor has referred her to a Cardiologist because of her medical history. We are hopeful all will be well.

As we drove through the Central Valley we encountered isolated storms. It would rain, and then the sun would come out. If you take the time to look, you will find there is always a rainbow. Always.

Love and blessings.