A Compliment

There are things in life that catch us unawares.

Sometimes these are the good surprises that come our way like a new book autographed by the author.  Some times it is seeing old friends that throw their arms around you and hug you like it was yesterday and you were in love.  Some of the best are when you find money in a coat that you have not worn for over a year.

On the other hand you can get news like we received in January.

News that makes even the doc frown when they tell you about it.  News that takes forever to soak in and make its presence known fully and irrevocably as a fact.  It is soaking in that takes the time.  Even though I have known since before January that I had something going on that just was not good, it is still hard to say it out loud.  Especially to ones who do not know.

And the reactions that you get when you say three simple letters of the alphabet.  Although ALS has been known about for ages, few people actually don't know it by that name.  You say ALS and you get the blank stare like Huh?  Then you say Lou Gehrig's Disease and they give the wide eye recognition of what it is and then disbelief as it soaks in a little more.  All in the space of what, seconds?

There are times though, when no explanation is needed.  Comprehension comes instantly and forcibly.  A caught breath.  A slight tremble of the hand.  Eye contact made then lost, then made again.  Hand reaching out to touch an arm in an effort to comfort.  All the while the unspoken questions running through their head.  How long?  How are they dealing with this?  I want to know more but dare I ask?

This weekend I saw an old friend of some 50 years.  I am not for sure he knew but we told him any way.  His immediate reaction was, well, one I had not heard before.  "You know without that ear ring and beard you look a lot like your dad."  Wow!  he knew exactly what to say to make my day.

Thank you my friend for that unexpected surprise and compliment.

Until next time.................