第20部分(第3/7 頁)

at　his　wife　would　probably　never　recover？　I　shed　a　few　tears　myself。　Because　of　the　medical　crisis。　Because　there　were　still　people　who　have　been　married　40　years。　Because　my　husband　is　still　moved　and　concerned　after　years　of　hospital　rooms　and　dying　patients。

There　is　faith。　Last　Tuesday　a　friend　came　over　and　confessed　her　fear　that　her　husband　is　losing　his　courageous　battle　with　cancer。　On　Wednesday　I　went　to　lunch　with　a　friend　who　is　struggling　to　reshape　her　life　after　divorce。　On　Thursday　a　neighbor　called　to　talk　about　the　frightening　effects　of　Alzheimer’s　disease　on　her　father…in…law’s　personality。　On　Friday　a　childhood　friend　called　long…distance　to　tell　me　her　father　had　died。　I　hung　up　the　phone　and　thought：　this　is　too　much　heartache　for　one　week。　Through　my　tears；　as　I　went　out　to　run　some　errands；　I　noticed　the　boisterous4　orange　blossoms　of　the　gladiolus5　outside　my　window。　I　heard　the　delighted　laughter　of　my　son　and　his　friend　as　they　played。　I　caught　sight　of　a　wedding　party　emerging　from　a　neighbor’s　house。　The　bride；　dressed　in　satin　and　lace；　tossed　her　bouquet　to　her　cheering　friends。　That　night；　I　told　my　husband　about　these　events。　We　helped　each　other　acknowledge　the　cycles　of　life　and　that　the　joys　counter　the　sorrows。　It　was　enough　to　keep　us　going。

Finally；　there　is　knowing。　I　know　Scott　will　throw　his　laundry　just　shy　of　the　hamper6　every　night；　he’ll　be　late　to　most　appointments　and　eat　the　last　chocolate　in　the　box。　He　knows　th