Lovely, I can relate with this: that there is no comfortable spiritual explanation for suffering, and also the sense of wondering where the person went, who they are.
My stroke-damaged husband talks when no one is in the room When I approach and try
to repeat the words he has just uttered, he goes silent and sometimes turns away. Is he aware that his is now a private language, unknown to others, probably. I talk to him, sometimes soothing, sometimes expressing the woe I feel at his strange liminal state and the despair I feel at his absent-presence....or, his present-absence. I miss the wit and the spirit of this man so trapped in a halfway place. Sue Rosenthal
And a beautiful man he was. TRUELY! He was not able to teach your children that beauty, but he taught you...and YOU are teaching them what YOU learned from your amazing dad! I see it Joe. I see your dad in your kids. And THAT is from you and Adrianne. Beautiful family and beautiful heart and souls!
Very touching and real. Things we are called to face for who knows what reason. Perhaps only to teach me to love more deeply. It is good sometimes to sit together. This essay provides a place. Thank you.
Thanks, Henry. Amen to that. Your words remind me of a quote I like from Staughton Lynd's book "Accompanying": "Sometimes all you can do for another person is stand in the rain with them."
Lovely, I can relate with this: that there is no comfortable spiritual explanation for suffering, and also the sense of wondering where the person went, who they are.
My stroke-damaged husband talks when no one is in the room When I approach and try
to repeat the words he has just uttered, he goes silent and sometimes turns away. Is he aware that his is now a private language, unknown to others, probably. I talk to him, sometimes soothing, sometimes expressing the woe I feel at his strange liminal state and the despair I feel at his absent-presence....or, his present-absence. I miss the wit and the spirit of this man so trapped in a halfway place. Sue Rosenthal
How difficult, Suzanne, to know how to soothe and be with our beloveds in these states. But we try. Thanks for sharing.
And a beautiful man he was. TRUELY! He was not able to teach your children that beauty, but he taught you...and YOU are teaching them what YOU learned from your amazing dad! I see it Joe. I see your dad in your kids. And THAT is from you and Adrianne. Beautiful family and beautiful heart and souls!
Very touching and real. Things we are called to face for who knows what reason. Perhaps only to teach me to love more deeply. It is good sometimes to sit together. This essay provides a place. Thank you.
Thanks, Henry. Amen to that. Your words remind me of a quote I like from Staughton Lynd's book "Accompanying": "Sometimes all you can do for another person is stand in the rain with them."
Joe, this is so beautiful, funny and sad. It brings back so many memories with your dad. What a great man.