Oh Eileen, this is such a great post!
My lightning bolt moments? Like you, when I became a Mommy. That was huge. Then, there was the moment when I was sitting on a ship in the middle of the Persian Gulf, on the phone, and a doc told me my son would probably be dead before I made it back to the States (he made it though, thank God!). The moment I said I do" the second time, and realized it really did mean "Forever". And the moment I talked to my brother and realized that my mom had passed away. Those are the biggest 'before-and-after' moments of my life. Kinda weird that two of them were on the phone.

Wow, Dee! I'm so glad your son was okay. I can't imagine what that moment must have felt like.

LC Eileen

Meeting Eileen Rendahl, of course. When do I claim my prize?

Wow. Lightning bolt moments... Receiving the phone call that my Nanny had died--felt as if someone had just ripped my heart out of my chest. Having my cousin call me and tell me her dad had a heart attack and then calling back to have her uncle tell me that the was gone. And then having to tell my girls. Tough.

Calling my sister the other day and hearinig the news that I am going to be a great aunt--I'm so excited. Having my niece call me the other day to tell me she is engaged--BEFORE she told her own mother! That was pretty cool!

And yes, all of my moments seem to have been on the phone. How weird is that? Oh, there was the one where my husband found my real father's obituary in the paper and showed it to me--that was more surreal than anything else, but I remember thinking that now I would never know anything about him or that side of the family because I had been too afraid to find him.

Your friend's comment about wishing she had shaved? Oh, that is SO me! And hysterical to boot! Hope she is ok--ankles are awful things to break.

Lightening bolt moments... some good, some bad...all so incredibly life changing...

Of course, the day I became someone's mom. Wow, talk about blowing your world and your perceived self out of the water. I was only 20 at the time, so growing up fast was necessary.

My divorce. My ex-husband and I drove to court together. "Well, that's done" I said when we were done, and he said "You don't have to look so relieved."

The day I realized I was a battered woman. I had been having such a hard time comprehending that I was failing at a second relationship (not a marriage, thank God) that daily beatings were almost an afterthought.

Oh and yesterday, a bookcase fell on my head and today I have a concussion.

Susan, you imp! I remember that day! You were adorable.

Lauren, a concussion? I hope you're all right! Hugs to hope you get better and hugs for the courage to get out of that abusive relationship. It's not so easy to see it when you're in the middle of it.

Eileen

One would be the moment I met my husband in real life. I had never seen him before (not even a picture), only spoke over the phone and internet. My friends and I were at a concert (BECK, 1996), and they had informed me that he was going to be at this concert. We had the following info and nothing more... he would be in khaki cords and a gray shirt. I saw this guy walk past me, he was wearing khaki cords and carrying a gray shirt. He had on a Rage Against the Machine t-shirt. He had longish hair and glasses. I happened to know that Matt's favorite band was Rage Against the Machine, so I took a chance and yelled "MATT" I had to yell 2 more times, but he turned around and I walked up to him and threw my arms around him, as if I had known him forever. Oh and by the way, prior to meeting him in person, he was not a love interest. One month after meeting him in person, he came to my 21st birthday party (he was 18 at the time), after that night, we were inseparable, and still are. That was 10 years ago.

Another moment would have been my very first ultrasound, when I found out my fetus had died. I was 11 weeks and emotionally destroyed by the news.

2 years later (almost to the day), I gave birth to my first born child, my daughter, Maegan. She's changed my life.

My 30th birthday was life changing, and wonderful.

Another one was when we found out my Uncle had colon cancer (he's free and clear now, but for a while, it was touch and go).

Just last week our family had a lightning bolt moment... We were made aware that a family member had lost his life in Iraq. Those words,"He's not coming home." they are earth shaking, even if the person isn't your significant other. Everything in my world blurred as I realized my cousin had lost her life mate, their children will never see their father here on earth again.

Reading these posts has made me weepy.

Excellent post, Eileen!
For me:
The sexy, wicked look on my husband's face when he asked me to marry him.
Giving birth, and feeling like the only woman on earth to have ever been bestowed such an gift. (yes, both times). Seriously, why wasn't I front page news?!
And on another note, I'm looking forward to the lightning bolt moment when I hit the state mega lottery... ;-p

Ooh, Delilah! I want the lottery lightning bolt moment, too! Of course, I suppose I'd actually have to buy a ticket to do that . . .

LC Eileen