Where the light extends

When I get to the end of this song, by DAR WILLIAMS, I always cry. And she is no more blessed than I.

This was one of those weeks when the power of my friends hit me with gale force. (In the chest, took my breath away). From information and logic ("If only breast tumors hurt... think how many of us could have caught it sooner...") to biting humor ("um, clever move, sharing this kind of news by plonking it on your blog.") to insistent generosity of spirit, ("You hide your tears from me again, and you are in deep deep...").

I think, ultimately, I blogged about my day on Monday because I desperately wanted to feel less alone. But it might have been more superstitious than that. Maybe I wanted to know that this warm sweet wind of love was out there, and no matter what happened next, it would be.

So... no news is good news. And... I feel fine. I feel blessed. Damn. You're good.



My Friends
-- Dar Williams

"He's a quiet man," that's all she said
And he's a thoughtful man
It's just he likes to keep his thoughts up in his head
And we finally meet, and she tries to draw him out a bit
She says "He's writing something,
Hey now, why don't you talk about it?"
And he doesn't make a sound
He's just staring at his coffee
And I know there's all this beauty
And this greatness she'll defend

But I think it's in my friend

I have a friend in a bright and distant town
She's found a common balance
Where you do your work, and you do your love
And they pay you, and praise your many talents
Well I'm passing through, and we know we won't sleep
She laughs, puts up the tea
She says "You know I think you remember every part of me."
And the water starts to boil

And if I had a camera
Showing all the light we give
And showing where the light extends
I'd give it to my friends

Sometimes I see myself fine, sometimes I need a witness
And I like the whole truth
But there are nights I only need forgiveness
Sometimes they say "I don't know who you are
But let me walk with you some"
And I say "I am alone, that's all
You can't save me from all the wrong I've done."

But they're waiting just the same
With their flashlights and their semaphores
And I'll act like I have faith and like that faith never ends
But I really just have friends