A Parent’s Lament

A Parent’s Lament by Wanda J Venters

I Forgot to Make It Rain today

I sometimes walk around with the weight of the world on my shoulders—I worry about terrorism and refugees, the Dow Average and interest rates, my children’s happiness and the weather. I worry about all the things I forgot to do today—I worry that I have Alzheimer’s because I forgot. I remember my dad teasing me that I was a worrywart. Much of what I have accomplished in my life I’ve done by worrying about details. I’m conscientious and committed. But really when I start worrying about how dry it is in the high desert and feeling that I should water in the middle of winter, I remind myself that I’m really not in charge of the weather. That it is okay that I forgot to make it rain today because really, I can’t.