"It was a day"...

Fear less, hope more; eat less, chew more; whine less, breathe more; 

talk less, say more; hate less, love more; and all good things are yours.  

~Swedish Proverb

"It was a day."

 I can't remember where this quote comes from, but it resonates like a simple, beautiful truth.  

Today, we learned that Dad has "heart failure," whatever the specific definition of that might be (right side, left side; congestive, vascular; words) in Dad's case. I have a hard time comprehending all of the info that comes directly from the "specialist," much less translating what I heard via 3rd party sources - I wasn't there when the Cardiologist came today to share the findings of the Echo-Cardiogram, but I did gather that the info the technician offered last night was not on target.... 

I may have this so wrong, but it sounds like Dad's heart has been sub-par (yes, I used a golf term on purpose) for awhile now - at least a few months... but, it was only today that this fact was clearly defined (and offered explanation for existing blood pressure and weakness mysteries) for me, so maybe I'm not the only one. And, while it is not welcome or happy news, it really doesn't change anything - it's been there, unsaid, doing its work without our permission - for some time now. What changes is the fact that we now have access to confront it with awareness and ammunition. Dad is grieving the loss of "salt," especially his Planter's Peanut habit.... but I know, with a strategic plan, he can rally the diet thing. This is treatable. 

Also clarified that he is dealing with infection in his lungs and that is being treated via intensive antibiotics - also treatable, thank goodness.

But this is not what I intended to write about... 

If I'm to follow the proverb, then what I want to do is "talk less, say more." Following that, I want to say I love, respect and am so inspired by my parents. These situations reveal who and what people are.  What I see in them is real, profound love of the most genuine variety. Over the past 49 years, they  have created a bond that is powerful, unbreakable and (I do not say this lightly) quite remarkable. 

They're talking about sending Dad home early next week... and that's a good thing,

Breath by breath,

Robin