Can't wait to see you, Mom

My Mom
called
from
Rochester
last
weekend.
The
Mayo
Clinic.
My
Dad's
prognosis
was
not
what
they
had
expected,
"Just
different,
Kevin.
Not
worse.
Just
different.
They
believe it
to
be
a
form
of
Parkinson's."
And
she
then
went
on
to
explain,
like
she
always
has,
everything
that
was
going
on
all
in
medical
terms.
So
my
mind
whirled
trying
to
decipher
what
she
was
telling
me
and
what
I
knew
of
Parkinson's.
My
Mother
later
called
to
tell
me
that
my
Dad
now
has
more
tests
scheduled
for
the
weekend
that
they,
"...were
planning
on
coming
up.
So
why
don't you come
down
to Rochester
and
we
can
have
lunch
and
dinner
together.
There
are
some
real
nice
restaurants
here
now.
And
we
can
walk
by
the
river.
And
we
want
to
see
you.
We
miss
you
so
much."
Which
led
to
my
Mom
explaining
that
they
were
putting
one
of
their
properties
on
the
market
and
there
was
carpet
that
needed
to
be
taken
out.
"Well,
of
course
your
Father
wants
to
do
it
himself
and
I
say,
go
ahead,
Carl,
but
if
you
pass
out
we
are
leaving
you
right
there.
And
sure
enough
he
exerts
himself
too
much
and
passes
out.
And
your
brother-in-law,
Steve,
freaked
out.
Oh,
it
was
nice
that
he
was
there
to
help
with
the
carpet
but
he
just
freaked
out
when
your
Father
was
laying
there
stiff
as
a
board.
He
started
calling
911
and
I
said
just
leave
him,
Steve."
Which
made
me
think
of
the
time
that
my
Dad
decided
to
put
insulation
in
the
crawl
space
above
the
garage.
It
was
in
the
middle
of
an
Iowan
110
degree
day.
My
Mom
said,
"Carl,
go
ahead
and
do
it
if
you
are
that
stupid."
Ten
minutes
later
he
came
crashing
down
the
ladder
and
landed
with
a
thud
on
the
garage
floor.
My
Mom
said,
"Serves
him
right."
Turned
on
the
garden
hose
and
showered
him
with
the
cold
tap.
I
told
her
this
and
she
said,
"Ya,
right,"
in
between
laughing.
The
two
of
them
have
always
amazed
me.
Each
in
their
own
breath.
Each
remarkably
funny.
And
kind.
And
filled
with
so
much
love
that
I
am
so
thankful
that
some
of
it
spilled
out
onto
and
into
me.
And
as
I
finish
writing
this
I
receive
an
email
from
Her,
"We're
having
a
beautiful
spring
thunderstorm
here.
Thinking
of
you.
Can't
wait
to
see
you.
Mom."

All That Heaven Allows

If a man does not keep pace with his companions,
perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer.
Let him step to the music which he hears,
however measured or far away.

Walden, or Life in the Woods, 1854

it is almost time to put the screen door on

The Ten Commandments
plays
in the
background
as i write this.
i planted
pansies
and
roasted
a
lamb
and
everyone
felt
the
sense
that
it
truly
had
arrived.
promises
of
days
of
60.
for
a
stretch
of
them.
and
eggs
to
dye.
linens
to
press.
all
in
preperation
for
Easter.
a
columbine
stretches
from
the
foundation
having
hid
there
two
years
ago.
perhaps
you
will
flower
this
year.
the
smell
of
dirt.
i
notice
a
faded
polaroid
of
my
sisters
and
my
mom
and
me
all
dressed
in
our
Easter
best.
me
in
a
maroon
seer-
sucker
suit.
i
know
that
portrait
well.
i
ran
across
an
antique
porcelain
rabbit
my
Grandmother
gave
me
for
Easter
years
ago.
its
celery
bow
bringing
me
to
her.
my
orchid
is
in
full
bloom.
did
i
tell
you
i
have
had
an
orchid
about
to
bloom?

inventing conversations that aren't there

i
stepped
out
my
back
door
this
morning.
a
robin,
head
tucked
between
fluffed
wings,
stuck
its
head
out
and
just
shrugged
at
me.
like
the
cold
and
snow
was
my
fault.
i
suppose
we
want
to
blame
someone.
the
birds
sang,
"see
the
birdie,
see
the
birdie,
chee-e
chee-e."
and
i
shrugged
back.
smiled.
further
more,
they
continued,
"see
the
birdie,
see
the
birdie,
chee-e
chee-e."