people genuinely enjoying themselves and talking about the show. There
was definitely a festive, holiday feeling in the air. Suddenly, I heard a
raspy voice call
my name. I turned
around a saw my
friend Pat. I then
went over to hug
her and wish her a
Merry Christmas.
She smiled and
excused her uncommon, “raspy”
voice. “Oh, Freya,
I guess it’s just
all the stress...you
know, work and
all.” I didn’t think
much of it at the
time: until I met
her husband, Joe.
Pats’ eyes quickly
shifted to the other
side of the room,
as she quietly
asked me: “Do you know my husband?” I said
no, so she beckoned to him to come over and say
hello.
Pat Hensen
As Joe reached over to shake my hand, I was
struck with his countenance. At about 6’7”,
with great long hair, and an 1800’s mustache, he
presented himself as a gentle, kind-hearted soul.
There was nothing special about the exchange,
except his warm and engaging countenance.As
the lights began to flicker, signaling the show was
about to start, Pat calmly turned to me and said:
“Do you know about Joe?” I simply said: “No,
what?” Of course, I was expecting to hear a wifes’
accolades about her husbands accomplishments,
or his work, etc: you know, the stuff we all like
to say. Instead, she looked me straight in the eyes
and said: “Joe has 90 days to live: he has Pancreatic Cancer.”
It is really hard to describe how I felt at that second. I felt the breath go out of me, and everything
seemed to get very quiet, in a very loud room. All
I could do was hug her, and tell her how sorry I
was. Then I felt something so strong in my spirit.
I knew I had to tell their story. Pat asked Joe to
come over, and she told him: “Freya is the woman
with the magazine—she wants to tell our story.” Joe looked at me with
those piercing eyes, and gently said: “Alright, I wouldn’t have anyone
else tell it.” I felt a big tear run down my cheek, as I looked up at him.
He leaned over and said: “Don’t cry for me - it will be OK.” I reached
up to give him a big hug and whispered: “I am not crying FOR you, I am
crying ABOUT you. You are so blessed.” Then we all turned and walked
Woman
TEXAS
FREDERICKSBURG
back into the theatre and took our perspective seats.
I was numb as I sat down. I looked around the theatre, and wanted to
scream: “There is someone dying here! How can we all just sit here,
what can we do?!” As the curtain went up, it hit me so hard. We ALL go
through each day, unaware of who is sitting next to us, who is driving the
car in the next lane, or who is waiting on us in the restaurant. When we
stand in line at the supermarket, and share social nicities, do we KNOW
what that person is going through? No, most of the time, no. Would we
want to know? If we did know, what would we do? Just say I’m sorry,
and move on down the road? When you think of it in those terms, it really is quite horrifying - what if it was YOU? What would you do? What
would you want people to do for you? How would you want them to feel
about you? Nobody wants platitudes. But I believe, genuine love and
support goes a long way. Not knowing, gives us a way out. Knowing,
give