The New Normal

We find ourselves at a new normal. Thanks to the efficacy of oral Revlimid + dexamethasone we have been holding the line in our cancer fight. We are on a blessed 8th year and starting the third year beyond what Sabine calls her "projected shelf-life.

For our birthday, which we both celebrate on April 5th (Easter Sunday this year!), I wrote this poem for her:

it’s the

new normal we

proclaim after

each

and every

life change or disaster

it can be

cancer

a change in chemo

death of

a child

and yet

that new normal slowly,

predictably appears

at our front

door

and waits

expectantly for

the invitation

we know you

we say

you’re welcome

to take the

room

upstairs

you know

the one

comfortably

we settle

back

on our couch

together

watching

a movie

yet

in my mind

my deepest

thoughts

he will no

longer be

welcome

here

no longer be

given

the room

upstairs

no

no longer

welcome

after you

leave

me

and my

heart

ripped

out of

my

chest

and the

movie we

were watching

ends.

(April, 2015)