‘Twas the night before vacation…

The night before vacation was rather busy. After work I ran a few errands including grocery shopping.   While at the store I text my dad and asked if he had already eaten dinner. He replied he was having another “spell” and didn’t feel like eating. I took a deep breath.

His “spells” have been troublesome for some time now. People ask what they involved. All I could tell them is it appeared to be some kind of lower stomach pain. Lately it culminated in him becoming sick and cleansing whatever it was out of his system.

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An Open Letter

To Leukemia,

I hate you.

You may suppose I’m not an articulate person because the word “hate” has lost its power in recent years and has become an overused verb.  Let me assure you, in my vocabulary,”hate” still carries the full emotion and power of its original definition.  I use it sparingly and reserve it only for you.

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On a Dime

Thursday:  I was assigned to a CPR class at work.  The annual CPR class is a requirement for each employee.  The teacher told us that on average, each person will have to use CPR at least once in a lifetime.  As I was getting ready to leave the class for the day I had a feeling I would be using the skills I relearned.  I scowled at the thought.  But the thought occurred to me I’d be using it soon.  Perhaps, even that weekend.

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Things Happen

This is my recollection of events that changed my family’s life.

It was in the fall of 2007 and my mom had been sick for months.  Though, every time she was questioned about it, she always had a self-diagnosis ready.   My dad had torn his rotator-cuff and needed surgery in Laramie, 200 miles to the east.  I had just started a new job and wasn’t comfortable enough requesting time off which meant mom had to take him.  I knew she wasn’t physically well but she insisted on being his driver.  I prayed the whole time they were gone that they would have a safe trip.

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