While my father was on the operating table getting his bum heart fixed, the phone rang. It was my dear friend from college who had nursed me through break-ups, thesis mishaps, and late night deadline panic with a seemingly endless supply of clove cigarettes and compassion.
"She dumped me," he said.
She was the first girl he'd ever thought could be The One, and now he was lying in bed, head spinning and heart broken. Should he have played it cool? (No!) Did he put himself out too much? (No way.) Would he ever meet another girl he'd want to marry? (Hells yeah.)
Broken hearts. The topic of the day.
I wish they were easier to fix.
When my dad came out of a successful surgery, we bowed our heads and held hands to give thanks. He was full of tubes and looked alarmingly like Chairman Mao lying in state, but he was alive and his heart was ticking. Standing outside his room, all I could think was, I'm so grateful I'm so grateful I'm so grateful. Al hamdulillah. Gracias a dios. Thanks be to God. Silent forces of good, whoever you are, I love you for looking out for my dad.
There were several scary episodes ahead - moments of chaos and confusion and sheer terror. I watched in wordless awe as my mom remained calm and focused, speaking words of love and stroking my father's head as he battled crisis. Meanwhile, my internal organs dissolved into marshmallow fluff and I just barely held it together. "Talk to him!" my mother exclaimed. And all I could think to say was, I love you, dad. I love you. So many people love you and want you to be well.
Including you.
Later, when my dad was alert and growing pinker by the moment, I told him about his fan club. My dad doesn't know about this blog, but he knows that friends from all over the world have sent him love, crossed fingers, baby panda hugs, and prayers. He was so touched. Silent friends of the internet, whoever you are, I love you for looking out for my dad. Each comment was like a hand holding us up.
A thousand hugs and kisses,
P.
Images from Cartolleria, a wonderful blog. C.S. Lewis quotation from somewhere on the internet (forgive me).
