Hey Cindy, I was just calling to let you know that you might want to call Adrian. He’s at home, he doesn’t feel so well.

Why?

He’s sick.

With what?

My dad continued calmly, as he always does in these situations, and prefaced his explanation with one of those “thank God it wasn’t worse statements.”

Last night while Adrian was working at the bowling alley, he was beat up as he tried to help a security guard who was jumped by five or six very drunk men. One other guy, the mechanic on duty, helped out while a woman who worked there called the police. The fight lasted only five minutes according to Adrian, but it was enough for him to be hit on his left ear with brass knuckles.

Adrian and the security guard were both taken via ambulance to a local hospital. A woman at the bowling alley called my dad with Adrian’s cell phone and left a short message that probably added more gray hairs to his head: “there’s been an incident at the bowling alley. Adrian is on his way to the hospital in an ambulance.”

Dad called back to find out the deal and see if Adrian was conscious. He found out that while they were waiting for the ambulance, others at the bowling alley were trying to keep him conscious.

When dad and Danny arrived at the hospital, Adrian as conscious. He spent the night there and left after having his ear sewn up for the lacerations caused by the brass knuckles.

The security guard was hurt as well, but he was released from the hospital before Adrian. He waited around to talk to my dad and express his thanks. He said he had no idea what would have happened to him if Adrian had not taken the risk to help him.

I hung up with dad and then left my office. I needed air, to cry without everyone asking what happened, and I wanted to say a little prayer of thanks.

I called Adrian when I returned to the office. He seemed tired and weary. He told me more about what happened and how the cops caught three of the men who attacked them.

Despite having four accident-prone kids, my parents seem to manage. I wonder how they don’t jump every time a phone rings or how they don’t worry themselves sick. Their strong faith means that they put us in God’s hands as we leave the house and face the world. Still, we’re not always so lucky. My parents have received three calls from me about accidents or near-accidents and more from Adrian, Lori and Danny. They rode in the ambulance with both Adrian and Lori as they were taken to emergency room on two separate occasions. And they’ve received calls saying, “Lori was mugged at Wal-Mart, but she’s okay.”

Perhaps we’re blessed.