Yesterday we had a terrible shock when a kossack (shortfinals...aka Ross...yes we have his permission to use his real name) we haven’t seen much of lately reached out to Otteray Scribe and told him his wife is suddenly very sick with cancer:
He said:
“My world just fell apart, today.
We drove to the local hospital, because Jan had been experiencing some [stomach] problems.
To our horror, she was diagnosed with [cancer that has metastasized to multiple organs].
She is going to be seen by specialists--two of whom I know--but the outlook is truly grim.
She is taking this remarkably well, whereas I am not. I have spent nearly 22 years with her.
She's already talking about future plans for me - and says at some point she wants me to 'go home'*.
I said we'll cross that bridge when we/if come to it.
I do not know what else to say.....now I must pack a small suitcase for her and take her laptop into the hospital. She says she has things to do.”
* She means that he should go home to England
and again:
“At the moment I am still reeling....I had to dash back from the hospital (the one where I used to work) to gather some toiletries, underwear and nightgowns for Jan. We spent a lot of time talking, and she seems, already, to have reached an accommodation. She said that - eventually - she wants me 'to go home'.
“That is where your project is,” she said.
I cannot get to that point yet.......I built a whole life/world around this gem of a lady, and we had hoped to spend the rest of our days, together. I remember seeing the Fall color as the Virgin Atlantic 747 swept in over Boston Harbor, that day in 1999 - and we have been together ever since, through all the trials and tribulations of life.
I cannot think of life without this strong, brave, honourable Italian/Irish lass - my tears are truly falling like rain.”
So the community sprang into action and we now have a quilt...the one pictured up top... almost ready to send them and I’m still looking for messages to place on the quilt before sending it off to them. I have about 35 messages of love and healing plus some pertinent “fillers” that suit a very aviation minded soul... which rounds it out to near 50. But I’d still like to get some more from those who missed yesterday’s diary.
If you have a message you’d like to send to shortfinals and his wife, Jan, please write them in a comment and I’ll transcribe them on the quilt.
here is the diary Otteray Scribe wrote yesterday: www.dailykos.com/...