Many of us awoke to news of a close friend experiencing the unspeakable. Today she lay in a hospice struggling as her wonderful husband and family keep vigil. Typical of my morning routine, before mustering the kids, I'll grab the ipad to catch a glimpse of what the day will bring. I opened my email to see a Caring bridge notification. If you have lived in this town a while, the cancer social networking site has become our everyday reality. The sinking feeling was already there. Having conversed with her husband earlier in the weekend, I sensed the hard truth of where his heart-felt writing was heading. If we're anything alike, you may be feeling as hopeless as I do. So with tears in my eyes, I went to rustle Peter out of bed, telling him it's time to start his day. I felt angry that she was robbed of this simple task of waking her own child. I'll shamefully admit, it wasn't only she what I was thinking about. Our own daily dance with our mortality plays this "what if" game in our heads. What if this was me? When the guilt of thinking that thought set in, I sluggishly moved forward ashamed of my thoughts.
Some of us headed to work or stayed home. Maybe, you went for a walk or reached out to a friend looking for a bit of normalcy. Despite the small town charm and cheer that our town usually affords us, the muggy overcast day seemed to act as a shroud to the brighter side of life. Little of what I write here can change some of life's destined outcomes. I wish more than anything, like the author of a book, I could craft the perfect ending to each story I come upon. Everyone deserves to live happily ever after. But to my friend, her husband, her family and friends, this chapter is a painful one. My librarian friend, once again you are reading to us. As you spell out your chapter, the best we can do is sit back, listen and learn. Please know that we are all in this together hinging on your words. Our stories are all unequivocally linked together through community, friendships and family. Like a great novel, your story is now a classic to be loved and passed onto everyone you have touched. Yours is the very finest of love stories. So we all pray for you, as those you love hold your hand, we hold your heart.
20 Comments
Tiffany Hesser
9/3/2013 08:53:50 pm
Beautifully written and so horribly unfair for this wonderful family. Wishing for strength for Mark, Melissa and their family.
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Julie Fox Annecchino
9/3/2013 09:35:11 pm
This is wonderful, Jen. We are praying for Melissa and her beautiful family.
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Aggie Solomon
9/3/2013 10:17:23 pm
Jen, what a beautiful tribute.
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Wendy Kane
9/3/2013 10:41:52 pm
Jen, my heart goes out to everyone whose lives have been touched by this lovely woman. Please pass my prayers her way.
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Kathy Debrum
9/3/2013 11:15:03 pm
Jen, a lovely tribute to a beautiful woman. The Albin/Bates family are in all our prayers
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Diane Swanson
9/4/2013 12:08:25 am
What a beautiful tribute to a wonderful person! The entire family are in our thoughts and prayers.
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Pam Carey
9/4/2013 12:26:18 am
The Albin/Bates family is in our prayers.
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betsy zito
9/4/2013 12:43:53 am
Jen what a beautiful tribute to a young women who only wanted to live a life with her beautiful family. It makes me ask Why her
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Gigi Wolfgang
9/4/2013 01:40:20 am
Jen I am in tears. What a wonderful tribute to Melissa. The photo says it all. Prayers for Melissa Mark Ethan Zachary Olivia and Zoe and for all of us. I "shared" this on my FB pg...
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Alison Byrne
9/4/2013 06:57:06 am
Beautifully written... You captured mine and I'm sure many others thoughts.
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Meryl Vallone
9/4/2013 09:32:26 am
Your words take my breath away. Melissa, and Marks love for each other and each others children is one you would find in a fairy tale. Soulmates!!!!
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Leanne Slawinwowski
9/4/2013 12:44:01 pm
Jen, such sensitive thoughts put into such perfect words. Thank you for writing what so many of us are thinking and feeling..
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Paula
9/5/2013 11:29:36 am
Jen,
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Jeremiah Adametz Jr.
9/5/2013 08:52:15 pm
There are no better words, Jen.
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Melanie Remillard
9/5/2013 11:41:19 pm
This is such a beautiful tribute to a wonderful woman. We hope that her family can find peace during such a difficult time.
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Kathi McMaster
9/5/2013 11:47:57 pm
Jen, thanks for putting all our hearts' love and loss into words.
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Jennifer Altschuler
9/6/2013 09:10:23 am
Jen, Thank you for writing this beautiful tribute to Melissa. She was a blessing to our community and we will miss her terribly. God bless her husband and children.
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Mike Geremia
9/6/2013 10:18:55 pm
A very sad reality. Our thoughts and prayers for the family
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Sue D'Orvilliers
9/6/2013 10:43:58 pm
so well written, no one can walk in their shoes and feel their pain but all of us as parents can identify that fleeting what if felling and maybe feel a little guilty but may be also take the moment to realize that every day is precious and everyone we meet is connected.
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