Vigil

Knocking on heaven's door

Mom has been sleeping just like this for two days. She doesn't eat and takes only a little water through a sponge on a stick. We have sung, prayed and talked to her through the hours, and she responds sometimes by raising a hand or moving her lips but not quite speaking. Her eyes never open.

We had a conference this morning with Jess the hospice nurse and Paul the social worker. They answered the few questions we had. I called a funeral home and it will be ready when we need it. We've had visits from the hospice chaplain, another social worker, Pastor Rob, Pastor Susi, and Mary the singer. Mom responds to the singing and The Lord's Prayer, and we have kept doing the things she seems to like.

Saint John's on the Lake has treated us well, providing food and drink, and in ones and twos we have taken breaks. It has been nice to be together, jabbering like macaws -- and it is funny how you can talk and laugh in the face of death.

When this is over we'll have a service here at Saint John's, and a memorial service in Ann Arbor at a date to be determined. She'll be buried at Forest Hill Cemetery next to my dad.