Last night, I met several of my cousins for dinner at a pretty good Italian place. They had the best cheese bread I’ve ever eaten in my life! There was a bittersweet purpose in our gathering. My cousin Tommy has mesothelioma. He’s doing great. He’s having chemo and it is giving him some wonderful time to share with his family and friends. We are all so grateful to have him here.

Tommy is 12 years older than me. I was just a little, little girl when he came home from the Navy in his whites and I fell in love! Oh…he was breathtakingly handsome! And he was still young enough to have an emotional bond with this little tow headed kid who followed him around like a moonsick puppy.

His wife knows…everyone knows. Any gathering could be the last gathering. And they’re so brave…and so loving…and so present…and so real. What do you say to someone who you know will walk your path? How do you prepare her? Of course, the answer is…you can’t, not really. There is only one thing to do…keep things as normal and upbeat as you can…for Tommy. And…there is only one thing you can say. My heart is with you.

I stopped for chocolates on my way to the restaurant, forgetting it was Suzy who likes chocolate…not Tommy. So, Suzy got the candy and Tommy got lots of lovin’ from this grown up little toe-headed kid that would still follow him around like a moonsick pup. My heart is with them.

❤️

““Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.””

John 14:1-4 NIV