Gallant Survivors

[Not the real Heidi but the closest image Google could provide...]

Many moons ago, our miniature dachsund, Heidi, went missing at the laguna house.  She was, as Aunt Carolyn would say, very "grown up" and after searching for her diligently, we eventually came to the conclusion that since she couldn't walk or see very well, and certainly couldn't navigate stairs, she must have passed away quietly in the garden somewhere where we couldn't find her.

To our great surprise, a few days later, someone put an ad in the local paper that said they'd found a elderly miniature dachsund on the beach at Crecent Bay.  They had taken her to the vet, and she was doing fine.  And then they closed with this line, "Will anyone help this gallant survivor?"  We quickly reclaimed our pup and for the rest of her days, she was called the "Gallant Survivor."

The same term came to me today when thinking about brother Tom and sister-in-law Jenny.  The word "gallant" means "brave" or "heroic," and "survivor" means "a person who copes well with difficulties in their life."  Need I say more?

Jenny and Tom - Utah 2008

Of course, I am going to say more because this is my blog and I have more to say.

Today, I told Tom that I was proud of him.  He responded saying, "I'm not sure I had anything to do with it."  I beg to differ.  I know few people who've had the persistent challenges that Tom and Jenny have faced.  And while I'm sure that they've had their share of fear, heartache, and pain over it all, what we've come to see is two people who are stronger, tougher, more resilient, more committed, more accepting, more trusting in God, more full of love, and infinitely more appreciative of life.  They've had many choices to make along this pathway they've been treading the past few years.  They could have remained stuck in a place of fear, frustration, worry, anger, sadness.  And we could all probably come up with a million reasons why each and every one of those qualities would have been totally justified under the circumstances.

But they chose a different route.  The Gallant Survivor Route.  Some other synonyms for "gallant" are: fearless, valiant, intrepid, heroic, lionhearted, bold, daring, audacious, undaunted, unflinching, unshrinking, unafraid, indomitable, stouthearted, plucky, gutsy, spunky.  I'm certain that there were many times they both Tom and Jenny felt way less than "undaunted" or "spunky."  And that's okay.  But in the end, they traveled this particular journey undaunted.  And spunky.

This is a journey that's best not traveled alone.  Someone's got to carry some of the extra load and pick up the things that inevitably get dropped.  As well as point the way when needed and cheer the other on toward the destination.  My gratitude to Jenny is unbounded, for standing along side my brother for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health.   

I love what Jenny's dad, Angus Scott, said to Tom prior to the trip to the hospital.  He said (and I hope I get it right, Angus...), "Tom, I've known many Marines in my day, and never met a braver man than you." 

So, hats off to both of you, Tom and Jenny.  This all may seem like too much for two people to bear in one lifetime, but I know for sure that this time spent in the wilderness is merely in preparation for both of you to do important things in the future.  There's a lot of work out there that requires gallant survivors to get the job done.  And we on the sidelines of your lives are privileged to have front row seats to watch what you two will be doing next.  Our seatbelts are securely fastened.

We love you.