Something to believe in

This is the face of good karma -- Anna eating Korean barbecue / Photo by Deborah Lynch

Is karma real? Are premonitions? From the time kids learn to taunt, they have spouted sayings like, “What goes around, comes around,” and “it’s a sign of good luck.” Later in life, many believe that someone who acts out of place or inappropriately will get his or her comeuppance. Those suffering from diseases look to doctors to confirm signs of improvement. Mom's have intuition. Everybody has had a hunch. Society subliminally perpetuates these types of beliefs. When it really comes down to it though, are they real or are they fantasy? My practical and realistic side wants to discount these notions, but my romantic, superstitious and hopeful side wins out.I’ve always been a believer that things happen for a reason, and if I don’t get something I wanted I tell myself “it wasn’t meant to be,” that something better or a different purpose awaits instead. It makes disappointment easier to swallow. It allows for optimism and for seeking another path. It allows one to change his or her life, to move forward.In contrast, I have also always carried the weight of the world on my shoulders. I let others’ sadness, griefs, troubles, defeats weigh me down. Politics do this to me. Friends’ tragedies do, too. Especially, my family’s worries weigh on my heart.Last Tuesday as I was driving to Vermont to help my daughter review and practice for her big veterinary technologist certification exam, I began to feel a sore throat coming on. As we read aloud and solved hundreds of questions on her practice exams, my throat tightened more. We did question after question like this: “How many incisors do goats have on the maxilla?” Who could know that the answer is none? We do now. The material on her exam covers everything from dentistry to radiology to pharmacology to anesthesia to every body system for every species and breed. It's mind boggling.All week, my throat hurt. Tylenol cold medicine and then Advil cold and sinus did nothing for it. Yet, I didn’t really feel outwardly sick. My nose wasn’t running. I didn’t have a fever. I just had this tightness in my throat and ear canals, and then painful glands in my neck.Last evening, we drove from Ludlow, Vermont, to Albany, NY, to spend the night so she could wake up fresh for her exam at 9 this morning without stress. She forgot to leave some keys at work, so we had to backtrack out of our way and return them first. We decided to forego a real dinner to make up time, so we ate drive-thru from McDonalds, something we absolutely never do because my daughter hates McDonalds. We both admitted it was OK and that we were happy to have the gigantic-sized medium unsweetened iced teas for our drive. It rained a little, then cleared with a beautiful sunset. We made it to Albany in plenty of time for a good night’s sleep. We scoped out the test center and found it easily, less than a mile up the road from the hotel.I tried to keep her calm. We talked about test strategies, number one of which was to remain positive. She wanted to study a little, but she also let herself chill a bit, too. We turned out the lights by 11. My throat was so tight. It really, really hurt.This morning, we were up at 6:30. She showered while I dressed in running clothes and popped two more Advil. We took advantage of the hot breakfast offered at the hotel. We came back to the room to relax, and she reviewed a few more things. Then, it was time to drive her to the testing center. She was nervous, but OK. I waited a few minutes in the car to be sure she was in, then drove back to the hotel for a run.As I walked, then ran through the dingy neighboring residential area, I coughed a lot. My throat felt a little scratchy. It suddenly felt hot and humid. As I showered after, I realized that the tightness was gone. My cold had loosened up and broken. As soon as I noted it, I also recognized it as a sign. My daughter was going to pass. I no longer felt the weight of her burden.She has been studying for this exam for nearly a year. She failed her first attempt in March, but learned that many people fail the first time. She hadn’t taken advantage of many study tools and resources before that first attempt, so this time she did. She completed a whole course of modules, completed thousands of practice exam questions, looked at books, notes, internet sources, and calculations. She got more experience on the job in those four months, too. She earned better than an 80 percent on most practice exams. She did what someone should do to prepare. Despite being a poor test taker, she will pass.Then, she can move forward with her life -- pursue jobs she really wants, move to an area with friends or family, have some fun in her free time. First, however, she will celebrate with me. We will go out for Korean food, her favorite. We will explore the crazy, unique architecture of downtown Albany. This weekend we will celebrate with her brother and friends with Hops in the Hills.I had a sign, and this is her karma. The “intent and actions of an individual influence the future of the individual.” I believe.I just picked her up from the test! The song playing on the radio was Young the Giant's "Something to Believe In." If that's not a sign, I don't know what is. She had a big smile on her face. Now for Korean karma!

Korean Toppoki hot pot makes an ultimate celebration

Here's a link to the great Young the Giant song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_ZRWZv14SA