I hope JoniRae will forgive me for not doing a funny fiction of her weekend with Pursey, as I have something else I want to say.
A week or two before her scheduled date, JoniRae asked if she could switch her weekend because she was going to end up with extra kids, and her fun girls’ night would not be able to happen. As much as I wanted to accommodate, it has become almost impossible for me to re-arrange in the near term. The schedule is just that tight. When I told her that, she was of course totally gracious but apologized that Pursey’s weekend would be spent á la kid.
I did not mind at all.
And then she sent me this photo, and I wept in gratitude that she had kept her date as scheduled.
The gorgeous girl is JoniRae’s daughter, Willow.
Willow is the reason.
Willow and the other beautiful daughters and sons of those who have shown Pursey Galore a good time.
I look at the people a generation or two above me. These are the people who are at the greatest risk. I know where we are with medical research, treatments and rehabilitation. We will fight, and treat, and teach and do our best to prevent. But the devastation still exists for them.
I wish it did not.
I look at the people in my generation. These people are at less risk. I know where we are with medical research, treatments and rehabilitation. And for those of our generation who may suffer a stroke in our older age, the odds are better. We will understand more about prevention, and more about treatment. But I fear there are still many who will live with the devastation.
I hope they will not.
But I look at Willow, and Kate, and Katie, Matthew and Eddie. Alex and Boy Wonder and Little Ceo. Tater, Miss L and Miss M. Hank, Sophie and Maren. Sage, Sawyer, X and all the other daughters and sons and nieces and nephews whose names I haven’t learned yet. I look at Child A, Child B and Child C.
Maybe it can be gone for them.
Maybe Anissa’s children can live in a world where stroke is a thing of the past, where the devastation has gratefully stopped, even if one generation too late.
Pursey Galore rocked Blissdom. And it was so fun to see the tweets and the photos. I laughed and applauded.
And thought about why. Why she was there.
She was there for Willow.
