This guy to my right

 I feel like there is a lot of doom and gloom on my blog recently. I obviously have my reasons for believing this but at the same time, there are little glimmers of love and happiness. The man next to me is one of those exceptions. Last week when I told him what was going on with mom between sobs, he told me to leave work and go home. He was concerned for me. We then made a plan quite quickly with the help of family and friends to get home to my parents where we were needed and there was no question from him. I told him what I needed and he made it happen, but it was more than that. He was happy to make it happen. He was incredible. He took my father out on Friday when all the heavy stuff seemed to come down and he gave him a good day. My father was aghast when he saw how much we spent on his favourite steak dinner, but Doug replied with he was worth every penny. He cooked, he cleaned and he spent time with my parents. He also did a lot of the lifting for mom but did it with a smile every time. Joking with her saying "where is my dance partner" or "give me a great big hug mumma". The way he interacted with her was sweet and made her smile every time. 

Because of this, she responded, she ate. She had refused food from everyone, but her son-in-law cooking for her was a big deal to her and she did her best to eat every bite. Suddenly, for a day or two she was stronger, she could get her feet under her to "dance" with him more. It was exhausting, you could tell from her face, but he held her and he did it in a way that was gentle and kind. It fills my heart to see the relationship that they have, even in the darkest of times, has a great deal of warmth. 

This man next to me is the person I turn to talk me off the ledge. When I am anxious he is the one that I call first to try to calm down... my cousins are a close second but Doug has always had this calming effect on me. Where I can sit next to him and the world doesn't seem so daunting, so malevolent and dark. I know dark times are ahead, but with this guy sitting next to me, I know I can get through them. 


I love you Douglas.












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