Good Marriages Are Like That

My sister, Debbie, just called and said that Mom had a seizure this morning when she was in the bathroom. She fell and hit something hard, breaking her collarbone in six places. My nephew was staying with her but he was at the other end of the house and didn't hear anything.

After she has a seizure, Mom isn't always able to think clearly; instead of calling for help, she went and lay back down on her bed. When Ben left for work, he didn't hear anything from her room and assumed she was taking a nap.

My brother and sister-in-law were already planning to pick her up at 10 am to take her to the hospital to have her stitches removed (she was diagnosed with skin cancer last week) and finally found her.

Mom and Dad always took such good care of each other over their fifty-three years of marriage. This was her first health crisis ever when he wasn't there and I know that must have made it all the more traumatic for her.

I will never forget being in Walmart with them many years ago when she had a seizure and crashed down to the floor. Dad was instantly beside her, cradling her head, saying he loved her, smoothing her hair, comforting her, even though she couldn't hear him.

I think even now he is comforting her, even though she can't hear. Good marriages are like that.

(Excuse me while I go and cry.)