The jig is up

Returning, for the moment, to the here and now -- I told mom about this blog today. I figured it was as safe a time as any. She and dad are visiting friends 3 hours away and she couldn't smack me upside the head without either a significant reach or significant effort. She called me later and told me that she had read my blog -- and that she liked it. I was told it was funny, yet poinient (I sure wish I knew how to spell that word). "It's interesting to find out what you remember from last April", she said. Then she actually apologized for making me sad -- that she didn't know how this had effected me. So, this next little paragraph is really for you, mom. The rest of you are invited to read it, but it's really for her:

Yes, this makes me sad. There is a section of my heart that aches nearly constantly -- and it should. You are one of my best friends -- you and my wife. Thank you for everything that you have done and continue to do. This cancer will not affect our friendship, until it separates us. Until then, we will keep that shadow limited to its small corner of the room and we will ignore it because it is irrelevant to my relationship with you, so long as we both breathe the same air. I love you mom.

Whew! The rest of you may tune back in now.

I also told my beautiful wife today. This was actually more difficult than telling mom, and not just because of her physical proximity (think: dope-slap). No, I was relatively certain of mom's response, but not so much of my bride's. Although we're close, I was afraid she would be offended that I kept a blog and talked about my feelings/concerns/dreads to total strangers. By this very act, I would be excluding her or somehow violating our little inner sanctum. Fortunately, as she has many times before, she surprised me. Her words were sweet and supportive. She offered the sage advice of making sure that I didn't use any real names and such, but overall she was pleased.

So, today my blog came out of its closet, in a matter of speaking, to those closest to me. And once again, they have proven their love and acceptance of this wretched soul. Thank you, each and every one.

Next time, I'll pick our little story back up. Until then: Ta Ta.