Sally’s not
here to celebrate the World Series victory of the Cubs, part of her birthright
as a Chicagoan of the north. (She broadened her cheers when our daughter and a
native southsider Sox fan were married.)
This is the week of celebration for
the Cubs victory over Cleveland, and also the anniversary week for Sally and
me.
We were married 62 years ago. We were in love and life was good. Life was
more rugged for people we knew, but it was still a surprise when it grew bumpy
for us.
Sally had recovered from polio in
her teens. She was a helper, volunteering to work in soup kitchens, visit
strangers in hospitals, look after the homebound , sing in choirs and drive the
elderly to medical and dental offices. She did these things while loving our
three kids and nurturing them, and finding things to laugh or cry about.
It seemed more than unfair that
anyone so dedicated to the health and holiness of others should come to know
triple bypass surgery, the loss of a leg, infections that could not be cured,
dialysis and other painful events, depressing to her family and friends. We saw
the specialists, who applied every advantage that science knows about, and we
prayed. The prayers for relief were not answered in the way we had in mind.
After more than 90 years of it I
know that life is still a mystery. So is death. They are the same mystery, and I
like mysteries.
© A. E. P. (Ed)
Wall aepwall@gmail.com
