How's this for perspective?

So I'm organizing a trip to Central America these days. One of the questions on the application has to do with whether an overnight stay in the countryside (sleeping on a hard bed or floor, outdoor latrines, no running water), with a long walk to a village without road access, would present any problems for the applicant. Here is one response we got. How's this for perspective?

"I just turned 70 which is a real downer because I don't feel that old. My tent camping and hiking days may be over but I can still take long walks, my balance and health are good, and I think I could still get up, after a night's rest, on a hard bed or floor, with enough flexibility to work out of the stiffness."

Sometimes, life hurts

A while back my brother's best friend Dave was diagnosed with leukemia. Out of the four kinds of leukemia there are, Dave happened to get the exact same kind our dad had. What are the chances?

Dave hasn't been doing too well lately. We got calls on Sunday that things were looking grim and that Todd should get himself to Indy. Then things started looking better. Down, up, up, down, up, down. That is how it goes with AML--it's crazy, complicated, confusing, and anyone's guess as to what's going to work at any given moment. (Often you ask,) What are the chances?

Todd got the call at 3am this morning. Dave has died.

Today, November 21, is the day our dad died two years ago. What are the chances?

It feels cruel, just cruel.

My mom and I are setting the table for the Thanksgiving meal. We've pulled out the old placecards that I calligraphied in elementary school--visible reminders of all those who used to be around our table who have now passed: my dad (Stan), my grandparents (Gran, Sug, Daddy Bob), my cousin (Lee). Dave spent a Thanksgiving or two with us as well.

Giving thanks in the midst of sadness and grief...that is the task these days.

Thanksgiving

I'm a slacker in the blog-world these days. Here's my attempt at a fresh start...a wee thanksgiving prayer. We sang this in church recently; the words are from Fred Pratt Green, the tune is "All Through the Night:"

For the harvest of the Spirit, thanks be to God;
for the good we all inherit, thanks be to God;
for the wonders that astound us,
for the truths that still confound us,
most of all, that love has found us, thanks be to God.