There is one coveted place at any high school game. The place with an admirable view of the entire field. The coveted bird’s eye view of the action. The sacred place where, through numerous stadium speakers, rowdy fans will be delivered a moment to moment play of game in deafeningly volume. The Announcer’s Booth.
As each announcement is delivered, it will be honored in one of two ways. One being loud cheers of affirmation- the introduction of a favorite player, an outstanding performance, or an unexpected win. The other being the resounding boos– the debut of an opposing team, a poor call from a referee, or a startling loss.
The announcement made to our family was neither. It was both expected and surprisingly confirmed. The slow absorption of news that had the simultaneous displeasure of being suspected and then affirmed. The receiving of such news garners neither a loud denial, like that from an opposing team, or the confirming cheer of a home team now with the news they had waited for.
When an answer so long in the asking has finally been reached, what is the appropriate response? This was written at just such a time.
The Official News
So we have it- the official diagnosis. . .Lewy body Dementia. . .or as Charlie Brown’s teacher once said, “wha what wa, want wa wha waa.”
When we first heard the news. . .the news that we had been waiting for, for easily over a year. . .the diagnosis that his primary care doctor said wasn’t possible. . .the diagnosis that now IS, I thought it would be different. I thought we would be relieved. I thought I would feel perhaps hopeful. Now I know and all I have to offer is, “Eh. . .well this sucks.” I am without emotion.
We knew. . .
We all knew. . .
We knew when this started over three years ago,
When the words would go missing,
When the sentences stopped short,
When the seclusion began. . .
We knew. . .
Something wasn’t right,
Something wasn’t matching,
Something wasn’t the same. . .
Never will be- it appears.
elizabethavron 