I flew out of the house in a whirlwind...running late as always. I slammed the car door and plugged in my cell phone for the first time in days; I never could remember to charge it. As soon as I turned it on, it rang.

My mother's voice rang out, "I'm sorry to bother you on your cell honey, but...so dad had an MRI done and it is showing lesions on his spinal chord...usually means tumors...won't know anything until the middle of September when he sees the neurologist...he's in so much pain...and I got the garage painted and..."

Her words had that hysterical edge...the one that said how not okay she was. I listened to her ramble and finally told her that I would come visit for Labor Day weekend. Her relief leaked through the phone.

I hung up and sat in my car, numb.

And the only thing I could think was,
"He can't die yet...he's just starting to like me."