The Walk & the Surprise

It was August, 1999. It was a beautiful day, and I thought I would take a walk over to my son Will’s future school, which was directly down our street, less than a mile away.

We lived in a tiny school district with one elementary school serving K-3, and one middle school which taught grades 4-8. At age nine, Will was “graduating” into fourth grade. I guess that I just wanted to walk the path before he did.

But, as I walked, I fretted.

I have no reason to be concerned about this change; I thought. So, why am I?

It was a mom “thing” I guess. His previous school had been wonderfully enriching and protective. Would lightning strike twice? Should it even? Part of life is learning from navigating challenging experiences. It’s just that it would be a larger school and with older students in seventh and eighth grade. He was going to be the small fish in the big bowl. There would be a lot of navigating.

I think that one thing on my mind was the importance of experiencing a good first year. If he had that, his transition would be much easier and confidence would soar. So, I focused on that as I walked along.

Please have a good year, this year I channeled to Will and anything else in the universe tuning in. It will be a springboard for the rest.

I started matching my pace to those words “good year” repeatedly running through my head.

There is a philosophy about fate and signs that I’ve always liked. It is that signs are nothing more than moments or symbols which randomly spring up in different places in our lives. They are momentary flashes of seeing the truth; a truth that is meant to help guide us. The cool part is that fate typically places us in the exact position needed to see the sign when it occurs.

But sometimes, people miss the signs they are supposed to see. They may look the other way, or they may be afraid, or they don’t believe what they are seeing.

Luckily, there’s a type of safety net in place. Life will keep sending signs until the person is ready to recognize them.

As I finally reached the back driveway of the school, and turned to walk inside the school’s fences, I paused; shocked. There, in the sky, flying quite low, was a cosmic sign; it would probably be the easiest sign for me to recognize for the rest of my life.

 It was the Good Year blimp. Honest to God. I think the universe had heard me and was telling me to not give one more thought about Will’s transition to middle school. He was exactly where he should be and he was GOING to have a good year.

And to think that I had also been exactly where I was supposed to be at that moment. I would have missed it by ten minutes of leaving earlier or later for my walk.

I stood and watched it slowly move over the school. I could hear the low rumble of its engine.

As it floated further away, I finally turned to head home; smiling all the way.

Photo by Tobi on Pexels.com

24 responses to “The Walk & the Surprise”

  1. Oh yeah 🙂

    Like

    1. 😂😂😂 thanks, my dear MB.

      Like

  2. Obviously you are an intuitive person, Melanie, looking for signs. That alone makes me smile.

    But then, the Good Year blimp—positively over the top. :-D

    Liked by 1 person

    1. It’s true that I am, indeed an intuitive person, Marian. 😊 It has served me well. But, I am smiling with you as this is 100%, the craziest message I have ever experienced; one in a million. That’s why it’s stuck with me all these years. The Universe has a sense of humor!

      Liked by 1 person

  3. How brilliant of you to turn your concern for your son’s next steps into a positive mantra. And how wonderful the Universe powerfully responded. I couldn’t help but smile at the end also. 😊

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I can’t say that I planned the mantra that way, it just happened. :) Thanks, Rose. And the blimp was astonishing! The universe was brilliant showing me that. 😊

      Liked by 1 person

  4. petespringerauthor Avatar
    petespringerauthor

    One time when I was a kid I recall that we saw the Goodyear blimp when we were cruising down the road. I don’t think we ever figured out why it happened to be in the vicinity. Perhaps it was one of those signs that I was oblivious to. Of course, I want to know how your son’s new school experience turned out. I just flashbacked to broadcaster Paul Harvey—”And now you know the rest of the story.”

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Ha! You are a teacher through and through, Pete! The sign part was nice, but let’s get to the school year, haha. 😂😂 I didn’t see it in action yet until he switched, but bigger schools mean more opportunities. They had a technology lab he could go to and some time in “enrichment”. I feel like he also had a TA in that class which was lucky timing as I always think they add to a classroom. In truth, probably most of the students had “good years”. Apparently, I just needed it spelled out for me! 😂

      Liked by 1 person

  5. Wow, you had a conversation with the universe and the response was loud and clear and a literal confirmation. How wonderful, Melanie. 😍
    I had experiences like that a few times in my life especially when it was a critical time.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks so much, Miriam. I like the words “literal confirmation”. Exactly! 😊 No one expects such clarity (ever) and yet, there it was. I understand that it was not a critical time, but the universe must have thought “we’ve got this one” haha. Thank you!

      Liked by 1 person

      1. You’re welcome, Melanie. I believe in angels as protectors and massagers. One time, I had a question, and couldn’t discuss it with anyone. An angel in disguise gave me an answer that I needed. 🥰

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Oh Miriam, that is incredible. ❤️ I am so happy that you received the answer you needed; and in which whatever form it took, you understood. I love that. 🥰

        Liked by 1 person

      3. That incident was incredible, Melanie. 😍

        Liked by 1 person

  6. How wonderful to ask the universe for help…. And get an answer like that!! The Goodyear Blimp??!! You must have also asked the universe to be quick about it 😂! I believe in signs as well and have had many in my life. I have to ask the question- was it a good year for Will?🥰

    Liked by 1 person

    1. 😂😂😂 That’s funny, Pam. No, there was no timeline, I wouldn’t dare do that!! I think the universe realized the blimp was in the area, and pushed it in my direction! It was an easy one to answer. But seriously, yes, Will did have a good year. I feel like he had his teacher and someone shadowing her for part of the year which always helps the students. Thanks, Pam!

      Like

  7. Oh my stars…the GOOD YEAR blimp? I can’t think of a better sign for you on that thoughtful walk. Amazing, amazing! And your reason for walking? This: “I guess that I just wanted to walk the path before he did.” That’s such a relatable mother-moment, isn’t it? Wanting to scope out the terrain to be a better helper, if needed. I love this post, Melanie. xoxoxox! 🥰💕🥰

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks so much, Vicki! The post is very much about being a mom, too. ❤️ Yes, I still remain in awe that the most improbable “perfect” sign EVER would appear like that, to me, at that time. It’s beyond surreal (but I giggle about it too.) 🥰🥰

      Liked by 1 person

      1. So good!!! 🥰❤️🥰

        Liked by 1 person

  8. Oh, how amazing! What an incredible story, Melanie. I love your sign philosophy, “They are momentary flashes of seeing the truth; a truth that is meant to help guide us. The cool part is that fate typically places us in the exact position needed to see the sign when it occurs.” Right!

    And when we see AND recognize them? Incredible moments. I love how you told this story!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I’m so glad you liked it, Wynne! Thank you. Seeing and recognizing signs simultaneously brings a peace that just falls over you. There is just no mistake there. I appreciate that you enjoyed how I told it. ❤️❤️

      Liked by 1 person

      1. A peace that just falls over you. Well said, Melanie! <3

        Liked by 1 person

  9. It’s very much human nature to worry about these things but I think it was definitely the universe giving you a sign that it was going to be a good year ahead.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks, P.J. I don’t think I’ll ever receive a clearer sign from the universe in my life. Boy, was it breathtaking!😊

      Liked by 1 person

Leave a reply to melaniemcgauran Cancel reply