a long summer

for...
...months of friends to say goodbye to and enough love and joy to make me miss them
...families that get to take their kids home, even with machines
...nurses who embrace me amid a crisis
...being asked to pray on the spot at a funeral
...writing and writing and writing it all out
...a home that has seen so much life it is evident when it is empty
...learning how to make an old family recipe
...being there at the very end, even the walk to the car
...friends across the country
...getting to say 'hello' and 'welcome back' this month
...rest and walking and swimming and lying in the sun
...sticking around
...burgers the size of your head
...new friends
...laughter and stories and time with old friends
...taking the long way