September

[Sweder]

A new month, same old knee, same old running curfew.
Still, the new bike offers a genuine outlet for venting my spleen and shedding some of the accumulated lard. It's been slow going but any kind of going is better than none.

This morning's clatter up the hills was shrouded in deep thought. A blogging acquaintance of mine recently lost her husband. He suffered a monstrous heart attack a few days after his 50th birthday, slipping into a vegetative state before, heartbroken, his wife made the dreadful decision we all hope never to face; to withdraw life-support. They have three children and my heart is filled with grief for them. I don't know them well; we've never met and in all probability never will, yet the story touched me deeply, especially the following words published in tribute by the youngest daughter. It made me stop and think, and it followed me all over those sun-dappled hills on this beautiful, breathless morning.

You Can Let Go Now, Daddy
[SIZE="1"]excerpt from song by Crystal Shawanda[/SIZE]

It was killin' me to see
The strongest man I ever knew
Wastin' away to nothin'
In that hospital room
'You know he's only hangin' on for you'
That's what the night nurse said
My voice and heart were breakin'
As I crawled up in his bed, and said

You can let go now, Daddy
You can let go
Your little girl is ready
To do this on my own
It's gonna be a little bit scary
But I want you to know
I'll be okay now, Daddy
You can let go
You can let go