Through the Rain

Friends, I have another confession to make: I love Barry Manilow.

No, that's not exactly true. I don't love Barry Manilow. I LOVE BARRY MANILOW. As in, my heart melts into an ooey-gooey puddle on the floor when a familiar song plays on the radio.

As in, I've been able to sing most every Manilow tune by heart since I was in the single digits.

As in, I am a true-blue, dyed-in-the-wool Fanilow. And I am not ashamed.

(Okay, maybe I am a teensy bit embarrassed to reveal this little-known passion. But I digress.)

Last night, the boys and I enjoyed a celebratory, "Only-48-Hours-'til-Daddy's-Home" dinner at Applebee's. When we walked into the restaurant, it was a lovely clear night in Seattle.

When we walked out of the restaurant, it was a veritable monsoon worthy of the South Pacific. We were only halfway through the parking lot by the time we were drenched from head to toe in cold, soak-right-through-your-jeans rain.

That's when they hit me... the lyrics to a favorite Manilow ditty:

I made it through the rain,
I kept my world protected.
I made it through the rain,
I kept my point of view.
I made it through the rain,
And found myself respected,
By the others who
Got rained on, too,
And made it through.

Of course, we made it through the rain to our car. Then we made it home, where we gratefully changed into warm and cozy pajamas and curled up together in my room to watch a family TV program before bedtime.

And today, with less than 24 hours to go before the CDR's return to the pier, I think I can safely say that we made it through seven months of deployment.

We made it through the rain.

That legendary songwriter, my beloved Barry, was right on the money when he said he "found [him]self respected by the others who got rained on, too." This year, I have been the eternally grateful benefeciary of endless emails, numerous phone calls, and several care packages from friends all over the country.

Every one of you helped me to make it through the rain, because you've been soaked a time or two before yourself. And you know how good it feels when someone reaches their hand across the miles or the grocery store aisle and says, "Here, let me help."

Thank you.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Comments

[Lori]

So glad to hear that the end is in sight. I was thinking that it was close...from one Barry fan to another:

We dreamers have our ways
Of facing rainy days
And somehow we survive

[Erika]

So proud of you, Christine and I so admire you! Bravo for making it through!

[Jill]

The end is in sight. So happy for you... for you all. You did a great job. You are the best mom to those boys. Thinking of you and your reunion with CDR.

[Nell]

Woo hoo! So glad for you. I won't call today (don't want to interrupt the family time) but we're on for the weekend, yes? How about lunch at a McMinnville winery on Saturday? ;)

[Gin]

from one Fanilow to another, I love to read what you write, and...I can't smile without you :)

[Molly]

Gah you're so inspirational. I can't even imagine such a long seperation. Clearly, you managed it with stlye, class...and a little Manilow.