God is Her Strength

Not knowing how to do something is not an excuse to do nothing. I learned this truth caring for Mom who had Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Focused on the nittty-gritty of whatever had to be done, I made peace with the unknown every minute of the day. People often say she died of “A-L-S” but I utter the eleven syllables to honor her eleven-month odyssey. Fearless, she forbade all life support measures while neurons systemically took away her speech, finger dexterity, lifting of arms, the ability to walk, and the ability to swallow—the last straw causing her beating heart to cease.

One of a few writing samples written in response to the Nicollet Mall Public Art Lantern Project's call for poets and writers, Winter 2015. Congrats to the writers selected in 2016.