the girl grows up
an eager electrician
a new life out west
raising a family, proud
teaching, learning, and dancing
retirement, north
a scourge of our times
the lady vulnerable
black abyss beckons
unacceptable
friends and family object
that journey premature
lethal chemicals
pressed into service of life
slow pullback from death
first learnings redux
supine at first, then sitting
finally standing
fancy new walker
eventually unneeded
not even the cane
eyes are bright again
the lady back among us
happy birthday, mom!
ten years on
mom is gone
and dad after less than a year
one, two, three had they sons
thankful all still here
i happened to see this in my drafts ten years after starting it, and decided to post it