On Love, Abundance and Family

She told me, “your uncle has cancer. Stage 4. Pancreatic. It’s bad.”

“Oh, and call grandma.”

And so I did.

The last time I’d heard her cry like that was at my grandpa’s funeral, when I was 13.

It was just as difficult to hear then.

You want to believe that strength — particularly in your parents and grandparents — is immutable.

That it doesn’t bend.

But sometimes it does.

I talked to my uncle the next day.

He’s doing okay.

The best you can in that sort of situation.

I’ve talked to him more in the best few weeks than I had in the past 15 or 20 years.

I don’t regret that, I’m just grateful for the time we have now.

It’s not easy, but I just want him to know that we’re here for him.

We may not have health but at least we have family.

And we say, “I love you,” more.