As I wrote about a few weeks ago, my grandfather has not been well for about 6 weeks now.  Yesterday he took a serious turn for the worse & has now been admitted to the hospital for comfort care (essentially hospice).  I absolutely believe this was the best decision, as he was clearly not getting any better & we all know he would never want to live the way he’s been forced to live since his fall earlier this summer.  He has had very little quality of life ever since his fall, & that is always paramount, no matter how much we all of course wish he could/would get better & return to his previous state of health.  But none of that makes the situation any easier.  

As I prepare to go to work tonight, I feel like I need to share this poem which I composed last night as I was going to sleep & on the drive home from Virginia to NC this morning.

Miss Responsible:

As long as I can remember that’s always been me

Or Mrs. Responsible now, as the case may be

But anyway, what I’m here to say

Is this:

If you think I’ve got it all together

If my face should hide my fears

If you find yourself surprised

At the absence of my tears

The truth is

I cry when I’m alone

Cocooned in my sheets in the dark of the night

Or sitting on the couch, hiding from the light

The truth is

I cry when I’m alone

So if you’re shocked by my composure

Or my apparent lack of grief

Trust me, it’s there; you know

Some wounds run more than surface deep