It’s snowing outside.
My coworker’s wife went to her home in Israel to visit family and have a routine checkup. They found a lump. Today they found out it’s cancerous. Tomorrow she learns details of treatment options. My friend was in my office telling me with complete (feigned) detachment, and then suddenly he was crying. He doesn’t cry, he’s uncomfortable showing “weakness,” so he retreated through our connecting door into his own office quickly, and I heard him sniffling for an hour. He will go to Israel, where she is, as soon as he knows when she needs him most. Meantime, he’s here and alone, and I’m the only one at work who knows. She’s not coming back for treatment, she wants to be where they speak her language (Hebrew) and where her family are. It could be months. She has a great support system, but he has nothing. I can’t help her, I can’t help him.
What do I do? Invite him to our house for dinner, so he isn’t lonely? Bring him a lasagna? Send him a card, or a movie ticket?
The snow falls. I search the Komen website for clues, and watch the snow, and sit with my eyes closed for a minute. Thank you, God, for the Professor’s health and mine. Thank you, God, for my mother. For his mother. Keep them all safe.
health and the many blessings it brings is a wonderful thing. i just found out yesterday that one of my former colleagues\’ (whom i love, adore, and respect) cancer has returned. she battled breastcancer 3 years ago and now it has returned as lung cancer. she\’s only 37. may we never know the true, personal affects of the destruction of cancer in our circle of close family and friends. my prayers are truly with your boss and his wife.
I hate these moments that invade life and remind us all of how fast the good can become the nervous/unknown/scary. If I let myself I could send my mind and thoughts into a tailspin of forever panic over what may lay ahead. Instead I prefer to remain of shallow thought, enjoying today and looking forward to tomorrow.
Your poor boss, and if he is truly alone – and depending on how well you get along, it would be nice to have him over for dinner. Or bring him an already prepared one. I wish his wife a speedy road to well.