Writing

I enjoy writing. This blog is my daily warm up. Many people, I’ve read, do their writing first thing in the morning. I do mine at night after dinner, but before ice cream.

The Elephante today weighs a ton. My sister Patti’s decision to, with professional medical assistance, end her life. The scope of this reality is vast. I’m speaking personally of course, but also of all the facts and circumstances that led her to this decision.

Fact: there is no cure for ALS. It is debilitating and very slow. She is now in hospice with the crew in place. I have no more details, but from the texting, it seems she will ‘pop the pills’ herself. My God. The guts that will take. I think it would be easier to be a soldier on a battlefield and have the enemy do it for you. Delete ‘easier’.

A friend, Aimee, suggested I email Patti a summation of all the wonderful things we’ve shared. That’s a lovely idea, but very long to hack out on the phone. And I don’t know if such a lengthy diatribe would sustain her attention. Consider your audience.

It’s impossible to image myself in her place. We are close. We love each other. And we are different individuals. This sounds like an argument for world peace. (Inappropriate humor). But the truth is no two people are identical. Not even identical twins. I welcome opposition to that.

Bottom line is that this is very hard. I will be going to grief counseling. The receptionist that did my ‘intake’ put a rush on it. More to tell.