What a Privilege

A woman named Lee is sort of my second mother here in Tucson.  I met her at the trailer park in 1990 where my partner at the time and I would go for November.  This woman and her husband were good friends of my partner’s parents.  Many a story of Lee and Ed, Pat and Alice and their travels. Over the years, I came back to Tucson for longer and longer stays and then of course moved here. Lee and Ed always welcomed me into their home and always had an ear for my woes.  Lee, Ed and I started going to the Women’s Basketball games at the University of Arizona.  Season tickets and excitement.  Several years ago, Ed left us but Lee and I continued to enjoy our tickets and good times.  Lee was also quite an artist, well known thru the Tucson area.  My home was graced with several of her collages and paintings she thought I would enjoy.  My partner and I split up, Pat died, Ed died but Lee survived cancer, several heart attacks and somehow her spirit keeps her alive.  Not sure how many last rites she has had.  She is now is a hospice environment in her house with yet another round of cancer.   At 80 something, probably her last go around.  In talking with her the beginning of the week, she expressed a wish to go to Christmas Eve service.  Her daughter had to work the week-end so without even a hint of hesitation, I said I would take her.  Christmas Eve, she got out of bed, out of pj’s, out of the house for the first time in a long time and I took her to mass at her Catholic church.  Lovely service, Christmas carols, decorations, drove home thru houses all decked out.  After we arrived home, her daughter served a lovely ham dinner and presents were exchanged.  I was part of the family.  I am sure Lee will pay for her night out, she was already in great pain when I left.

A  present of  Christmas Mass for a very devote Catholic was indeed a privilege  for me to offer and have accepted.