Real Life

This is what a real life looks like:
it's heroic.

Within the space 
of four years,
her brother-in-law died
in a logging accident.
Her step-daughter
had a teenage baby
she could not
care for,
that she - his grandma -
is now raising.
Her parents died,
horribly,
together,
in a car accident.
Then her brother died.

Her husband
went back
to drinking.
Then, he left.

Recently, her grandson, 
now age four,
has been diagnosed 
with autism.

And, bottom line,
what this woman
takes away from all of this
is what a gift 
that unexpected baby was,
who traveled with her through
the worst years of her life
and colored her heart
with love.

True story, kids. Just one more pilgrim, on the path. 
Not thinking she's doing anything out of the ordinary.
Saving lives.

* puzzle piece symbol  created by the National Autistic Society