Special Miracles June 2014 | Page 6

My mother is as blind as a bat. She literally could not function without her contacts or her glasses on. I've seen some pictures of her in her childhood, and let me tell you, she wore some nice thick glasses.

My dad, pretty much the same thing. He has recently bought a pair of reading glasses (from what I understand, this is some type of rite of passage in middle to late adulthood). Jessica has worn glasses since 5th grade I believe, and she too cannot see a thing without glasses or contacts. Taylor, perfect vision. Jake and Joe, we have yet to find out.

Then there's me.

I have 20/20 vision. Nothing medically wrong with my sight. But as of the last year and a half, I have begun "wearing" a type of glasses. I guess you could say that they are rose colored glasses. And guess who picked out these extraordinary glasses especially for me? ...you guessed it, The Princess herself, Zoey.

Typically, the phrase "through rose colored glasses" is something that carries a negative connotation: ignorance, someone not in touch with reality, feigned optimism, perhaps even foolishness.

But is this really so? Or is looking through glasses tinted with a twinge of pink actually a gift of sorts?

I would support the latter.

Since the birth of my littlest sister, things have been on an upswing for me.

Zoey came into our life, and my life particularly, at a time of grayness, and by gray I mean that I was going through the motions of life, skating by, taking all for granted. Then, in a quite rude awakening, I was faced with the stark contrast of all that is worthwhile and meaningful and all that is void and purposeless.

Underneath a tangle of tubes and wires, a ferocious spirit battled without even making the conscious choice to do so. This small warrior was giving me a run for my money in the courage zone.

I found it so much easier to remain apathetic in so many areas of my life, rushing around, trying to do what was best for only myself. But everything changed that day. It was as if she came into the world and wordlessly told me, "Slow down. Stop and look around for a minute."

So I did.

6

By: Cailtin McAuliffe

Through

Rose

Colored Glasses