Wednesday 13 April 2005
9:20 a.m.

At Mom’s yesterday afternoon, the lady who comes to do therapeutic touch said that at the cancer clinic they are talking about Mom because they are amazed at how “remarkably” she is doing.

“Why do you think you are doing so well?” she asked. Here we are, the family, thinking Mom has had a hell of a rough time, when in comparison to others with cancer as advanced as hers, she is sailing through.

“I don’t know,” Mom said. “I guess God is looking after me, as he always has.”

“What do you think the reason is, Kathy?” the lady said, turning her head to look at me.

“Maybe all the prayers and healing visualizations really do make a difference,” I proposed.

“There have been studies showing that sick people who are prayed for do better than those who aren’t,” she told us. “So maybe that is it. Or maybe,” she added, “it has something to do with the loving cocoon of family and friends around you, Grace.”

“I can believe that,” Mom said. “I am certainly well looked after by all the angels in my life. I’ve been very blessed, with my husband and kids, and I have good friends.”

“You know, many people I visit do not have that care and support,” the lady said. “They go through this alone.”

“Oh, that’s terrible,” Mom said, hardly believing anyone could be in such dire straits.

“But true.”

***

Everett’s list of five good things after coming home with a headache yesterday, thus some delay:

1. saw a deer on the way to school
2. learned what spontaneous combustion is
3. ready to paint on my art project
4. finished my book called Monster Blood
5. weren’t many dishes tonight