This note is taken from an email I had with my brother, who has just made his third hospital visit in a row. As sick as he is, we are enjoying a deep email conversation and nothing is off-limits. I told him that dark humor always enters the picture when things get serious. It is a safety valve and maybe akin to those paddles you see ER doctors use on TV.

“Here is something weighty that came up for me this morning. Leonard Cohen produced a lasting body of work, yet he was plagued with depression most
of his life.

My little Laurie, being a great soul, had to suffer exactly as much as she did.

My son has had to endure more darkness than most people will ever face as far as his family goes.

We mourn Anthony Bourdain, who lit up so many hearts all over the planet, yet his demons were quite real.

Consider Elvis, Prince, Michael Jackson, Van Gough. You can name your own.

My particular gift is sensitive writing and I have had to endure anxiety in spades all of my life.

You can think about your life in those terms.

Nothing in the world of opposites is given to us without an equal amount of darkness.

The devil gives us punch cards and Jesus gives us thorns.

This, my dear bro, has just become an essay!

I am going to T.J. Maxx and Marshall’s this morning. I have a handful of punch cards to use up.”

I am smiling….

Love,
Vicki