As I walked by the house of a man who is on hospice I noticed a car parked out front. The New York plates suggested that his daughter had traveled down from upstate to be with him. Probably it did not occur to her to expect her aging father to come to her. So she packed a small bag and showed up.  

Our daughter and her fiance are having a destination wedding in Vermont next month. Neither of them, nor anyone they know lives in Vermont. But that is the patch of beauty they want to surround themselves with on this momentous day. Several relatives surprised them by planning to drive through three states to hear the I Dos. None suggested that she move the wedding to their own back yard.

A woman I have known since childhood has a new grandchild. It is not her first and will probably not be her last. But this was a much anticipated pregnancy and I expect she will find a way to squeeze out some vacation days to go hold this newborn. She will make smoothies for the tired and smiling mother, and hug her youngest son. It would not make sense to her to insist that the young family make the trek to see her. 

I have been guilty of stand offs. I wait with my hands staunchly on my hips, head cocked. 

"If you come to me, I will come to you." I wordlessly toss the dare. The attorney in my head construes a case for why I should hold my ground. Yet holding your ground can be a solitary stance. 

Sometimes it is honorable to be the one taking the steps.