We heard the news last weekend that Matt's father was in the hospital. While we stressed and fretted over the past week, we decided that he and T should visit him this weekend. They left early Friday morning and will be back late tonight. Matt's dad is recovering, the details of the illness are blurry and vague like most forays into the hospital. But he is improving daily.
It's been difficult to be here in Texas without being able to provide support for my own family and my extended family. I'm far better with the written word than I am with spoken ones, and that's just something I'll have to work on. For over 10 years, Matt's dad has been a presence in my life, very different from that of my own father, but a father-figure nonetheless. He is a strong man with a tough spirit, very similar to my Matt, but also different in many ways.
How I've missed Matt and T. There was a part of me that thought I might enjoy the quiet and freedom of a weekend alone. The quiet I appreciate, but the alone is much harder. My heart has grown too many roots around them both to not feel torn when they're gone.
But today is a Happy Sundog Day because they'll be home soon and the Pack will be together again. Matt's dad is healing and the family's pain is subsiding. We've been holding our collective breath for too long. So for now, I'll wait here and enjoy the quiet. Because soon it will be loud again...just as it should be.
