L and I were friends in high school. That's 40 years ago. We stayed in touch for a few years after that, but then lost touch. She moved away, I moved away...you know how it goes.
12 years ago, we reconnected. I (in BC) sent a request to a radio program that airs nationally, and she heard it in southern Ontario (2,500 miles away) and wondered if this were the same person, etc, etc -- looked for a telephone number, picked up the phone, and on a Friday evening, as I was waiting for Rob to come home, there was this voice from the past. We talked for an hour or more, exchanged addresses, and have been in sporadic touch ever since. Always, we exchange greetings around Christmas, and one or two other times each year.
Her husband has been fighting cancer for several years, with varying degrees of success. Tonight I picked up her email, in which she confirmed that this is now a palliative care situation. Nobody has any illusions anymore, and it's now about balancing pain management with some degree of alertness. She is his primary caregiver, but does get some respite. It sounds like as good as such situations get, and she's content, because she wants to tend her soulmate.
I've never even met B. They made a trip west earlier this year, and we might have connected then, but B was taken ill on the journey and all he saw of BC was hospitals. I gather it was touch and go for a while, but they got home and things settled somewhat, but have gone downhill since then.
I put L's email aside. I can't answer it tonight. I'm just sad for her. Send them some vibes, will you? For a really good piece of time for these soulmates to end their time together on this earth well, and for as easy a passing as B can have, and for peace for L. I don't know at this point how long B has but...
Funny...I haven't seen L in at least 35 years, we didn't live in each other's pockets then, and we haven't lived in each other's pockets since we reconnected...but the connection feels so strong...
Thanks for listening.
12 years ago, we reconnected. I (in BC) sent a request to a radio program that airs nationally, and she heard it in southern Ontario (2,500 miles away) and wondered if this were the same person, etc, etc -- looked for a telephone number, picked up the phone, and on a Friday evening, as I was waiting for Rob to come home, there was this voice from the past. We talked for an hour or more, exchanged addresses, and have been in sporadic touch ever since. Always, we exchange greetings around Christmas, and one or two other times each year.
Her husband has been fighting cancer for several years, with varying degrees of success. Tonight I picked up her email, in which she confirmed that this is now a palliative care situation. Nobody has any illusions anymore, and it's now about balancing pain management with some degree of alertness. She is his primary caregiver, but does get some respite. It sounds like as good as such situations get, and she's content, because she wants to tend her soulmate.
I've never even met B. They made a trip west earlier this year, and we might have connected then, but B was taken ill on the journey and all he saw of BC was hospitals. I gather it was touch and go for a while, but they got home and things settled somewhat, but have gone downhill since then.
I put L's email aside. I can't answer it tonight. I'm just sad for her. Send them some vibes, will you? For a really good piece of time for these soulmates to end their time together on this earth well, and for as easy a passing as B can have, and for peace for L. I don't know at this point how long B has but...
Funny...I haven't seen L in at least 35 years, we didn't live in each other's pockets then, and we haven't lived in each other's pockets since we reconnected...but the connection feels so strong...
Thanks for listening.