You Can't Love Enough

I wanted to take a few minutes here to get something off my chest. I am a budding writer, and as such, I feel the need to tell stories that entertain the readers, and perhaps give them a glimpse of a different world from the one they live in. Over the past two weeks, I have been working hard to get my new novel, KEY LIME SQUEEZE, out to the public, and tell the story of a private detective and father of two. In reality, I am a husband and father of two wonderful children, and have been rocked by news that friend of mine from here in western NY is going through.

After a routine eye exam, a mass was discovered on the optic nerve and chiasm of his one eye. After consulting with a local neuro-oncologist, he and his son flew today to Washington DC to get a second opinion. The news was worse, as the doctor informed him that the tumor may be of a very agressive nature, and any surgery will most certainly leave the 19 year old boy permanently blind, and may not even halt the advance of the cancer. The two are currently en route to NYC, to consult with a pediatric neuro-opthamologist as to any additional options. He'll be back in a few days, and I pray the news gives he and his wife some hope against hope. Those of us who work with him are offering our support in any way we can.

For myself, I came home and immediately held my wife and both my children as tightly as I could for as long as I could. I am sure it was all quite bizarre to them. They always get hugs from me the moment I step through the door, but the events of the past two weeks brought home to me something we all know instinctively, but maybe keep buried in the back of our "junk drawer." The place in our lives where we let the job, the schoolwork, the grades, the garbage of life sit and clutter our view of our family and friends. My point? You can't love your children, your spouse, your family and your friends nearly enough. There is no wrong time to tell them, there is no wrong way to let them know. If tomorrow never comes, as the song goes. If you have the time, and have the desire, say a prayer for my friend, his son and family. After you let yours know how much they mean to you.

God bless.