There’s no pretending you didn’t hear the word. It makes itself known. It doesn’t wait for you to introduce it to friends and family. It takes the lead. It lures dreams of grandchildren to the edge of the plank, and pushes them off with no remorse. It shatters spirits and terrorizes stability. It crouches like a tiger, waiting for the right moment to pounce. It’s the six-letter word you never want to hear. Last week, I watched the syllables drip out of my father’s mouth. They did not evaporate into thin air. They lingered like the smell of burnt popcorn. And I am left to brush elbows with a six-letter.
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June 3, 2011 at 7:36 pm |
Life is so complex. One moment, it seems eternal, and the next, it seems like our lives or the lives of those we love flash before our eyes. We lose hope in living life to the fullest as a result of what is happening to us or others around us. No matter how our fathers are, I know it hurts us when we know they are hurting…it’s a painful thing to be connected to someone physically and emotionally when life is hitting them with brand new obstacles,…but there is hope. There is hope in the here and now..in loving fully and appreciating fully right now…that hope is everpresent…today, next week, next year…I watched a close mentor and mother figure suffer in the later stages of cancer…she talked to me about life, love, hair, work, etc. I had to realize there was so much love and power in those moments…and I cherish them still. I hope and pray all the best for your father as I keep my own in my heart as well for health, happiness, and the fullness of life…I know that despite the obstacles…love always has the power to be the constant needed to empower and overcome…