Please Raise Your Glass in Honor of This Family

This isn’t my usual, self-centered, self-evaluating entry. This entry is about a family who is celebrating the life of their wonderful husband, father, brother and friend. I am not family, I don’t even know him. We are “friends” on Facebook, but really haven’t had much contact. I have chatted with his lovely wife on several occasions. Again, I don’t know her, we just have a few things in common. She has read my blog and she has supported my efforts with Million Dollars for Mom. She and her husband are Purple Warriors and he is about to travel to his next adventure.

Why am I writing about someone I don’t know? I’ve been asking myself that. A little while ago, the lovely lady included me in a group she created in the hopes of giving her husband and family support, love and laughs. She said she thought I would get his sense of humor. I did. I want to say right now that I don’t think I have ever been so touched by such a simple gesture. She added me to HER group. Either she thought it could help me or maybe she thought I might have something to say. Whatever the reason, she has brought me to tears on more than one occasion.

Her husband is just days, maybe a week or two away from losing his battle with pancreatic cancer. I hate to say lose because it isn’t a game and losing sounds so negative. He has fought long and hard and has done his best to lift those around him up during his journey. Really it isn’t just his journey, it is a journey that belongs to him, his family and friends. 

How do I know this if I don’t know them? Well, I’ve been reading, crying and reading some more. I have never seen so many positive posts, stories, humor and love for one person and his family. I hate to admit, but I do nose around Facebook some but in this case I was invited. So, I decided that I wanted to know more about him and I have to say, what an amazing man and family.

In the short time that I have had to “get to know” this man, I have also been able to understand the deep love and respect that his wife has for him. It is a love that has endured and will live forever. He is her Prince Charming and she is his Princess. I love, love like that. Not everyone has it, but they do.

So, I am writing about this because I hope that you will stop for a moment today and think about this family. They are strong and will go on but for now, they are holding on to each second, waiting. I’ve been there, it is the hardest thing to do. I hope you will pray for them and I hope that you will look at your own love, your own family a little differently. We should all hope to be a little more like them. 

Pancreatic cancer is an evil beast that steals and tortures. This family has kept their spirit, their love and their hope intact. It didn’t steal that.

Thank you for allowing me to be part of your “family and friends”. Thank you for sharing just a little of your journey with me. It is a very familiar journey. I know time is not friendly right now. It won’t be for some time. Although this time hurts, it is a blessing.

So, I will keep reading and I will keep crying. I know one day soon I will open my computer and I will read THE message. That day will be hard. I have grown so fond of you and your family. I wish all of you blessings, peace, continued love and lots of laughter.