Together

Together

It was on a day in early February
that it began ~
the symptoms, the fear, the first appointment with the doctor.
As you drove me home, you said
“Whatever this is, we are in it together.”
And so it has been.

You took care of all of the business with the hospital ~
pre-admission, and making sure I had special attention and good care.
You made the telephone calls, and you asked for prayers.
You were by my side, before surgery, and after.
You brought flowers.
You fixed food I often didn’t want, and sometimes stayed away when I wanted to be left alone.
You bought the groceries, and fed yourself, or took me out to eat.
When I was annoyed with you and cranky, you were patient.
Though I didn’t see or hear you, I knew you prayed ~ a lot.
And the miles and miles and miles you drove ~ mostly uncomplaining! ~
for seemingly endless appointments
(though driving, especially in traffic, is definitely not your favorite thing!) ~
four months (altogether) of radiation treatments, five days a week ~
six months of chemotherapy ~
consultations, tests, check-ups ~
and all because I didn’t want to go alone.

Though we had many friends who cared and loved and helped us as they could
I know you often felt alone.
You kept your own weariness and fear and loneliness inside
and did what needed to be done, without complaint.
I accepted all you did ~
often seemed to take it for granted ~
because, after all, I remembered what you had said ~
“We are in it together.”
And now, nine years later,
though the doctors never expected it to happen,
I am still here
and I am well
and, as we have been for over half a century,
we are still in it
together.

For that,
I thank God
and
I thank you.
Happy Valentine’s Day to both of us!