Posted 5:26 PM by sport

Today I'm at the folks' house as per usual for a weekday. I am enjoying one of the welcomest sights, sounds and scents I know: my mom, cooking dinner. She hasn't been able to do so since before the holidays. Nobody wants to feel useless, and when we are denied the chance to do those things that define for us our "purpose" or our arena of expertise / confidence, life becomes intolerable. Along with physical limitations and pains, depression descends and we feel like a burden to our loved ones on top of everything else. My mom has had a heap of woes, depression foremost. We've fought doctors and dolor, cooked dinners and picked up lotsa take-out. I've tried to boost the parents' flagging spirits with concerts of old recordings and special video presentations. Shelley has provided them with special visits by the great bulldog Olivia, and my sister, brother in law and nephew have increased the frequency of family gatherings. Brian has done the daily driving and fetch-em-ups. My mother has improved, and consequently my father has as well. Today, things are pretty good for the old folks at home.

I have go to shovel snow now, and then I'll come back in and eat a meal made by my mother's hands. There is nothing sweeter in this world than the opportunity to re-appreciate the commonplaces that comprise our richest treasure in life. Nothing is more rewarding than a small, temporary triumph over fate's grueling onslaught, and nothing's more delicious than the taste of love. A moment of silence, then, to smile, breathe deep and remember that we're alive. And a wish to you that you are similarly blessed this day.