Good Days
Simon and I had such a nice day today. He's very ill and he doesn't have a lot of good days anymore. I can barely accept his declining health, much less speak of it. But occasionally I try to put down my thoughts.

Skyler spent the last two nights with her best friend so we've had this time all to ourselves. She starts back to school this Thursday. It's hard to believe that summer is over already.

But back to the two of us. He played guitar and sang some of his old songs that I've not thought about in years. He knows so many songs. It's not like when I pick up the guitar and am stuck on the same 4 or 5 tunes that automatically demand to be played. Funny which songs pop out when you pick up a guitar or sit down at the piano. Old songs I learned as a small girl. Songs my grandmother taught me. I walked over and joined him on "Too Far Gone" by Emmylou Harris. (I don't know if she wrote it or not.) And "I Will" by the Beatles. Songs take on a different meaning now. They're more pronounced; more personal. Some of the lyrics are so tender I find it hard to continue. But he's in his element with a guitar in his hands. On a good day, all bets are off. We sing on.

We went grocery shopping, picked up a DVD, and ran some errands and he later fixed Chicken Caesar Salad for dinner. One of his specialties. He's been busy; panting and sweating all day long, but he never complained. I think I should ask him to rest, but dismiss the thought. As long as he's having a good day.

He's lost almost all his body hair. And his stomach is so extended that it looks like it may burst any day, which looks strange on a tall, lanky man. Some things are said and some are left unsaid. We talk about the hair loss. We don't mention the big belly. The doctors appointments, medicines taken, just general malaise, take up enough of our space and conversation and time.

Sometimes you gotta roll it back; sing, laugh and make it a good day. I'm grateful for the Good Days.