I was not always sitting in this lovely home on Thursdays reading others’ writing,

Before that I was in the El Dorado National forest folding origami cranes and watching a Western Tanager in the madrones.

Before that I was at Tassajara naked under the stars, and sitting in quiet meditation, and going to forbidden places in my writing.

Before that I was making sandcastles at the beach with grandchildren and reading sweet stories to sleepy lambkins.

Before that I was starting back on the chemo drug and taking naps.

Before that I was in St. Louis with my brothers, sleeping in the Lazyboy chair next to Mom at night, and staying close to her during her last days.

Before that I was meeting with the surgeon, the oncologist, the neurospsych doctor, the heart specialist as we looked at the cons and the cons of my health choices. 

Before that we hosted my 3 adult kids, spouses, grandchildren for spring break at our home where we walked the beach and made elaborate meals with lots of ingredients.

Before that we hosted my wife’s family, at least 12 of them I think, to celebrate birthdays, and a newly adopted baby, and we navigated grievances and past hurts.

Before that we flew to Hawaii for a week long vacation and I had a stroke on the airplane and spent four nights in the Kona Community Hospital.

Before that I was coming to writing group on Thursday mornings and writing about writing for a project on Runes for Writers.