back in snow country

but I wish I was here on a simple pleasure trip

I arrived in Syracuse last night, greeted by my brother Karl and six inches of freshly fallen powder. While waiting for the checked bags to make their way to the claim area, I went outside for a smoke and picked up a handful of snow. Yep, it feels just like I remember. This is the first snow I've seen in seven years.

Mom is getting very close to the end. Dad finally figured out that when she says she wants to go "home", she doesn't mean this house. That makes a lot of sense. Last night she repeated her wish, and we all told her that it was OK if she wanted to leave. Dad believes that she has been holding on until all of us were here.

This is so hard to accept, but it is also very painful to see her in this depleted and tired condition.

Dad had a hospital bed delivered so she can be in the living room with us. Her time is very short, perhaps only hours are left. It is comforting to know that I won't be a thousand miles away when she lets go.