Love

We learned last night of the death of someone who was the kindest, sweetest man, under his gruffy exterior. So today, after all the emotions of the last week, I turned to what matters the most: love. My boys, my family. As i try to accompany his family in their grief, I remember the blurry days after Martin’s days, and how the closing ranks of family felt like the last life vest on a sinking ship: you hung to it, to them, even as the words missed their mark, even as you stood dumbstruck in the middle of a room. That kind man was in the center of that room, those days, his presence calming, safe, as he shook his head with sadness. So you turned to the kid, made him laugh, because his laughter was seconds of relief, hints that it would get better, we would be ok.