Blue

STORY ONE:

I found out last night that a woman died. A woman not too much older than I am. The family belongs to my church. This is not a eulogy.

Maureen's daughter and my daughter played soccer together for a season. The other girl's dad coached the team. She had divorced and her ex-husband had custody of the kids. She still came to all the practices and games. She was sociable, friendly, and you could tell she was a caring person in many ways. Her oldest son committed suicide a few years ago, having not talked to her in several years. The anniversary of that sad day was a couple of weeks ago. That's also the last time anyone talked to her. The police were finally called to open the home and they found her body, decomposing. A disaster of a life, now ended with no chance to change.

STORY TWO:

My friend Evelyn has a brain tumor. I just got the news today. She doesn't understand why I love her so much. She's getting close to 90 years old. She's a steamroller. She has her own opinions and when she's right, or believes she is right anyway, she will argue with you and give you the reasons why you should agree! She is the closest thing I have to a communist friend. I love her for that too. It makes her sad that she can't change the world. She makes me want to fight hard for the poor and forgotten in the world. Will she have to have chemo? Will the chemo give her any extra time? And, will it be time that she can use?

STORY THREE:

My dad has leukemia. He's had it for going on 20 years. They told him it was a slow moving kind (around 20 years or so before anything would have to be done) and something else would likely kill him first, since he's been diabetic for years, plus has some heart issues and more.

Well doctors, it's been almost 20 years now. He's still among the living, but crepitation has my dad in it's sights. His hip is a mess, and his other joints aren't doing too hot either. This kept him from any meaningful rehab after his heart surgery. Each time I see him I am so affected by his weakness which seems to get worse by the month. Now the oncologist needs to see him about his blood counts which are changing.

STORY FOUR:

I left work today feeling awful. Like somebody beat me up. The sky mirrored my mood. It was completely overcast with autumn chill and damp in the air.

The wait at the bus stop was longer than usual. Aboard the bus I did my best not to start crying. Denzel in the whipping scene in "Glory" crossed my mind.

Once in my car, I turned on the radio and listened to commercials to distract myself. I found myself driving up the steep ramp from Front Street to the Paseo Bridge. The angle of the car forced my gaze upward. The smallest patch of blue sky was visible right in front of me. I looked around for more blue. Nothing. Completely overcast. But this tiny little piece of blue sky suddenly became my fast friend. I smiled. I thought of the overcast sky and the tiny patch of blue.

I thought of hard times, and tiny slivers of hope.