Before dawn I drove a dear friend to the airport where he’s catching a flight to the rest of his life. One in which is beloved dad will no longer be present. One in which his mom’s best friend and life partner will no longer be around to share all the big and little things. One in which his sister may one day walk down the aisle with her brother blessing her future instead of her dad whose honor it would have been to do so.

Life changes in an instant. And I’m really struck by the swiftness with which it can happen. One minute to the next. 

As I sit here looking at Rocco, I’ve got tears in my eyes. He’s been observing me the last couple of days, checking out my stuff and taking an occasional lap to wherever I am before returning to his orthopedic bed.

It’s clear that he’s an old man, I can see it in his eyes and in the way his body moves. He’s big and hairy and calm and gentle.