Richer or poorer, sickness and health, until.....

My husband and I have remained married long enough to face the circle of life. We have weathered illness, loss of parents, loss of grandparents, and loss of friends. As the year 2007 rang into our home, the sounds of saddness and inevitable loss came calling as well. An uncle is battling the last stages of cancer. You know my feelings regarding cancer as it is very dear to my heart. As we made the respectful call visit to show our love and concern, my mind and heart traveled back to my mother struggling for her final breaths. I watched her battle the closing of her eyes. I heard her ask to stay in her wheelchair rather than go to bed. I watched her spirit light slowly die down to a speck. As I made my rounds to say hello and offer whatever I had, I quickly assumed the nurse-role as there were so many questions loved ones needed to ask in the sterile doctor's office but nerves and scattered thoughts prevented. I did not mind. I did not dance around what I have found to be the truth in my 23 years of nursing. I did not stammer or stutter through the hard, cold facts, I simply laid out simple, honest answers. No, I did not offer a time amount being left to live. No I did not offer miracle cures or innovative medicine to be given. I offered resolve. I offered understanding. I offered release. I offered my phone number for questions late at night or a familiar voice to listen and sometimes answer. I offered me. I know, one day, one of us will be left alone. One of us will be sick. One of us will need the strenght to go on. The reward of marriage, isn't always in the jubliant times, rather in the comfort of knowing we have made friends along the way who will stand in the kitchen, sit on the couch, answer the phone late at night, and know death does not part love.