Lucky Four Leaf Clover

When I was in elementary school, I went to camp one summer at the YMCA with a neighborhood girl whose sister was my sis' best friend. Their mom had just died and somehow she and I were coerced into attending drama camp together. I don't remember much about the acting portion of the camp but I do remember she found a patch of four-leaf clovers and wouldn't tell me where they were. I spent every lunch break outside scouring the hillside for four-leaf clovers to no avail.

To me, they're elusive. Like elves, leprechauns and fairies, I'm not sure they even exist. (Except for the tooth fairy. I know her pretty well.)

A few weeks ago, one of the little girls across the street, B, was bemoaning the fact that the other kids at school always come back from lunch with four-leaf clovers and she can never find any. She shared with me that she spends her lunch break looking and looking.

A kindred soul.

We agreed to walk over to the school playground this summer and together we would find some. Why not? I've been looking for them for over forty years now all alone. It would be good to have some company.

Just last week, my neighbor/girlfriend Ellie posted on Facebook that they have a patch of four-leaf clovers in their yard. I excitedly told B and she began bringing it up in conversation approximately every two minutes. So yesterday, she and I headed over to Ellie's and, alas, couldn't find them. The directions were clear: to the right of the weeping cherry tree. Maybe it's us? As my kids would say, epic fail.

When Ellie got home, she texted me: did you get some? When I responded, "no," she went outside, found one, took a pic and sent it to me. I headed back and Ellie pointed them out to me. And there they were: mixed right in with the three-leaf clovers, same plant, same branch, different clover.

Now I can't wait for B to get home from her grandmother's this weekend! Oh the joy.

This is my four-leaf clover. Can you see it?

Why don't you come over? I'll show you my four leaf clover.

Pray Like Hell

Last night I went out to dinner at Good Luck with a old friend from NYC who was in town on business. Very, very nice to see him.

A few hot toddies later, I was at home, fast asleep, when I received a call from my coworker Jennifer. Apparently my boss had missed her connecting flight to the Roch and had taken a flight to Syracuse. If she arrived before midnight, there would be a rental car waiting. If not, she would be SOL.

As the quintessential enabler, with a direct view of the tremendous stress my boss is under, I offered to pick her up. Thankfully, my husband steadfastly refused because a) I would be driving during the wee hours of the morning when my body is more accustomed to sleeping, b) the snow/road conditions were not optimal and c) uh, I had been drinking! Hello.

This morning Jennifer was (kindly) blaming my boss' dependency on me. "If you didn't cater to her every whim, she wouldn't expect it." Alas, she's right. So in honor of my codependency and the "year in miracles," I penned the following and have vowed to pray it every morning at my desk.

* * * * *

Dear Lord,

Thank you for the innumerable blessings you have provided us.

Please guide us today and every day so that we may:

• Do your will
• Serve you, each other and our clients to the highest degree possible
• Honor you and each other in all that we do
• Respect/value one another’s opinions, skills and capabilities
• Live our lives with the utmost integrity
• Maintain a healthy work/life balance and boundaries
• Watch your miracles unfold before our very eyes
• Have heaps of fun!

We love you! Amen.