Thank you for this life

Mom passed away ten years ago today.

Though she seemed to see her family doctor every other week for chronic pain for years, they diagnosed her cancer at an advanced stage. It was in her lungs, esophagus, sternum, ribs and dotted all over her brain.

My father called in the early, early morning. Before the dawn chorus. Before even the birds had woken.

I dressed and rushed over. It was a long, silent forty-five minute drive out to Gresham.

My heart is aching fierce as I write this. Memory is like time travel. The state of physiology returns to the point of origin.

There wasn’t much to say. Mom was dead.

I made biscuits and gravy when I got there. Just like pappy taught me. Sometimes cooking food is the only thing to do.

Mom and I had often butted heads. In life, she was a fiery little Japanese lady. In her last days, as her body withered, I got to finally see another side of my mother. Her physical form seemed to evaporate away from the chemotherapy and her spirit began to shine.

In her last days on this earth, mom and I forgave one another. We made a promise… To only remember the good. As the decade has streamed by, that promise has been easier and easier.

Thank you for this life, mom.

Thank you

For

This

Life

.

~Hamid

Fumiyo and Benny, 2004

firstofnine.wordpress.com • compassionartspdx.com • takingcareportland.com

Just finding First of Nine: Tensegrity Blog? Deep dive with massage articles, photography, video and music in Portland, Oregon’s Cancer Survivroship and Bodywork Zine!

• The 21st century cancer survivor’s breakfast
• Can personal injury improve your massage therapy practice?
• Sunrise

psst… Like First of Nine on Facebook!

psst… psst… Follow Hamid on Twitter!