For every action...

...there is an equal and opposite criticism.

Never has this been more apparent than in our current political and social climate. If one person says "Masks", another says "Never a mask". If one says "yes", another says "no".

This seems to extend to all things. I told you about 2 friends who were struggling with health issues. One passed away and her death has left me reeling. It's so easy to say "what if" -- what if she had sought treatment earlier? What if the doctors did this or that? But that's too easy. It is what it is and I have to accept it.

The other friend is facing an uncertain path into dementia, which can be so hard to diagnose and hard to treat. Is it truly dementia or is it just elderly confusion? It's a hard road for her children who have made lives for themselves far away. They want what is best for her, but what path will that be?

I've come to the conclusion that we can all only operate from knowledge and love and hope we've made the right choice. We won't know for sure until events unfold, and maybe our knowledge was faulty. But if our love was there, we truly did try to do the right thing.

We are born naked, wet, and hungry.

 Then things get worse.

Today I'm reflecting on what is worse. I have two dear friends who are in dire straits, health-wise.

One is someone I've known for almost 30 years. She's active, outgoing, and upbeat. She's had her challenges in the health area. She was ill as a child, she donated a kidney to her father, and she battled breast cancer recently. Now she's fighting for her life because of an infection from her gall bladder. She's a thousand miles away from home and has been in the ICU for two weeks and will be there for at least two more. Her wife is with her, but she's in and out of consciousness, being intubated and flooded with medication.

The other friend is one I consider an older sister. She's 10 years older than me and in the beginning stages of dementia. Again: active, outgoing, and usually upbeat but she's had a hint of melancholy since her husband died 8 years ago. She's never been a decisive person, but she always seemed to meet life with a 'can-do' attitude. Her children live far away and are trying to help, but it's hard (I know. Been there, done that).

For both of these women I am praying for a successful resolution, no matter what it might be. I hope for both of them that there is gentle release from pain and grief and fear. I don't know what form the release might take, but each of them deserves the best that Fate has to offer. I will help where and how I can, but am removed from them both and there is little I can do. But I'll step in if needed because I want to give both ladies all the comfort I can.

Sometimes life is just bitching hard, no two ways about it.