Thank you

My friends, I thank all of you from the bottom of my heart for the incredible outpouring of kindness, understanding, and support my family and I have received from you these past few days. I cannot begin to tell you what a comfort it has been to hear from so many people praying for my family, wishing us healing, sending positive energy out into the universe for us to draw upon. Those of you who have lost or are in the process of losing a parent -- and how terribly sad it makes me to reflect on how many of you there are who have already walked this path or are on it with me now, or perhaps worse yet, had a parent taken from you suddenly, without warning and without the chance to say goodbye -- you have particularly touched me with your generosity of spirit. I want all of you to know I have indeed felt that hand on my back, that figurative or literal shoulder to lean on, and all those real and virtual hugs when I have needed them. I feel quite certain I would crumble without so much love around me, near and far. Please know too that my family has appreciated your good thoughts as much as I have.

I am writing this from Windsor, where I spent the morning with my family, as we had a meeting with my father's doctor, who gave him his diagnosis. Without going into detail, it was not easy, but I am glad I was there. Running into my old friend Cindy at the hospital, who gave me two great big bearhugs, really helped. Call me superstitious... I can't help but think it was more than coincidence we happened to meet right then. May there be more such moments of grace in the days and weeks (perhaps months?) to come.

I hope you will understand, my family and I wish to maintain some privacy going forward, and so although I will be in touch personally with those of you I am closest to, there will not likely be any further updates to the blog regarding my father's condition for the foreseeable future. Comments will remain open here, should you feel the urge to leave any sorts of "thinking of you" messages over time. They will be most welcome.

Confidential to my sister Julie: Thank you. You gave me a great gift today. I recognize it and cannot begin to tell you how grateful I am.