Just What I Needed

I went to the store today; it has gotten to be such a rare thing to do. I could say it is because of quarantining due to Covid, but it is because of Ankylosing Spondylitis. Online shopping has become a life saver for me. While I was in store, I noticed a young mother with two babies in her basket. I peeked over and caught a glimpse of them. I would say they are about four months old, cutest little boys, twins.

I could not tell them apart and wondered how the heck did she. She told me their names were Kenneth and Austin. I can not explain the shock that went through me at hearing their names. She went on to explain that she was going to name them something like Gary and Larry, but she decided to name them after their grandfathers. We visited for a while, and I told her how much I appreciated her kindness and gift of allowing me to visit with her and the boys.

I sat in my car for awhile trying to gather my emotions, it was shocking enough they were identical twin boys, but their names were shocking to me. So many questions and thoughts were racing through my mind.

Would Austin be a father? Would he have named his son after my father, Kenneth? What would my identical twin brothers be like had they lived? Oh my gosh I have no words to explain how this affected me.

I spent the evening lost in memories and what ifs. I still could not get over the coincidence and the chance meeting with her. It was more than my mind could process, Kenneth is my father's name, Austin is my grandson's name and I had two identical twin brothers named Kenneth and Keith.

After a while I began to find comfort and happiness in this encounter and the blessing of seeing two beautiful little babies.

Today I am grateful for having to run to the grocery store to pick up things I needed and for things I did not know I needed.