Giving thanks

This is Karen. Erik’s now gone into surgery, and I wanted to post a tale of gratitude:

Our family didn’t stop reading bedtime story as the kids got older--we just upped the content to match their age level. We have been reading Lord of the Rings for our story for about a year now, and by coincidence our heroes entered Mordor about the time Erik was diagnosed, and the parallels, extending Erik’s metaphor, have kept surfacing in interesting ways.

For those who don’t know the story (there are some!), I will set the scene. When our protagonists (Frodo and Sam) reach the last stage of their journey, they must enter Mordor, a place of great danger, where they are essentially walking into the front yard of the (almost) omnipotent evil entity (Sauron) who is on the lookout for them. At this point, their friends are too far away to help them with their mission in any direct way, but realize that what they can do is to risk their own safety by mounting an assault on Sauron, drawing his attention and troops away from the interior of his land, to allow Frodo and Sam easier passage to their ultimate goal. Frodo and Sam have no idea what their friends have done, but their journey into the heart of Mordor, which had seemed impossible, suddenly becomes a burden they can shoulder.

Erik and I have felt much the same way:

When we learned about Erik’s cancer, and the path we would find ourselves on this fall, we were quite overwhelmed, and the help from friends near and far, has enabled us to feel we can handle this challenge. At the very beginning, we were at our family folk dance/music camp, surrounded by friends, and their firm support made a world of difference to our outlook. We told a few people at the time, and others didn’t even know the whole picture, but knew that we needed their love and friendship without knowing the details.

Since then, a number of local friends have come and assisted in the yard and garden, helping me feel much less daunted by the many autumnal tasks which I’ve been shouldering, without Erik’s help this year. Others have offered to help with rides, food, housework, and keeping Erik company when needed (many of which we will take people up on in December!). We got a lovely care package from another friend, and innumerable friends and family both near and far have sent such warm words of support and encouragement, that we have felt quite buoyed up and strengthened. And several folks have explicitly said I should call anytime I need a sympathetic ear. I’ve taken only a couple of them up on it, but it’s nice to know people are there if I need them.

I also want to give special thanks to a few people:
- Laura, our “exchange daughter” from Germany, who came for a fun visit this August, and ended up cheerfully helping with all sorts of tasks in the house and garden.
- A couple of dear friends who have offered to come up and visit during Erik’s convalescence, allowing me to resume some of my work visits.
- Our friends Barbara and Chris, who have graciously opened their home (near the hospital) for me to stay as much as I need when I’m on bedside duty (and both of us last night, before our 5:45 arrival time this morning!)
- My wonderful parents, who are staying at our house with Cameron in loco parentis while Erik’s in the hospital, and helping out as needed.
- And last, but not least, Cameron, who has risen to the occasion with a maturity beyond their years, making dinners (including patiently pureeing food for Erik when he needed that) and being generally helpful in so many ways, and uncomplaining about all the disruptions to their senior year.

People’s emails, FB postings, Posthope comments, phone calls, and actual letters and cards have lightened Erik’s spirits over the last few months, and made him feel much less anxious about the surgery today. Thank you all!