For Henry

I’ve had one of those days. Left the house at 7:30 a.m. and got home at 11:20 p.m. I worked, had two interesting and exciting doctor’s appointments (that I will talk about later), went out for dinner and an improv show with my Mom.

While I was at my second doctor’s appointment, I looked at my Facebook app on my phone. Edmund posted on his blog that his Dad, Henry, will have his brain surgery tomorrow.

Henry has Glioblastoma multiforme. Brain Cancer. This is a recurrence, he had his first bout in 2008. We are lucky they can operate.

The thing is, I am not in the thick of it. Henry is in Philadelphia. Edmund and his Mom are in a hotel nearby. Ed’s sister and her husband are in Allentown, PA. And I am here in the WB (Westbrook, Maine, for those of you who are not familiar with my vernacular.)

I am not in the thick of it and I feel disconnected and I am also still dealing with my father’s death this past April.

And I haven’t talked to Edmund since a little after lunchtime and I think he’s sleeping now and I don’t want to wake him because the surgery is at 7:45 tomorrow morning and he might need his beauty sleep. I am torn.

My heart is in Philly right now.

I really, truly lucked out when I got my in-laws, Henry and Chris. They both opened their hearts and welcomed me whole-heartedly into their family. Henry is a kind and gentle man, and he loves his family without reservations; he and Chris are as proud of ME and MY accomplishments as they are of their own children’s achievements.

Like my parents did, Chris and Henry have a loving partnership that is beautiful to see. When Eddie and I got married, we only hoped to emulate both sets of parents for our relationship.

Tomorrow morning as I prepare for work, I’ll be thinking of Henry going under the knife, and Eddie and Chris and Melinda and Robert as they wait, and wait, and wait.