Just about five years back I wrote and published a piece entitled “Juxtapose”; just a little over five years ago, actually. We were about a month into the COVID-19 pandemic. My life at the time turned upside down not too long after; my marriage fell apart. The good news? My ex and I, we’ve continued as co-parents, raising our three kids 50/50.

Juxtapose.

Consider where I am now. Just now as I write this down. Sitting at my elderly mom’s hospital bedside, after a fall at home has her navigating multiple bone fractures, a lump on her head, and a black eye. She may or may not have surgery to fix the fractures. Waiting, we’re just waiting.

Juxtapose.

I compare these thinking about my priorities. My family really matters more than most everything else for me.

I’m willing and even happy to sacrifice my discretionary time for work; I rarely take lunch; I prefer to push through, so I can get home earlier when I have my kids.

After I got word of my mom’s fall, and quickly following thoughts about all the loose ends at work, I resolved to do what I can, but be for my mom first. Other than my brother (thankfully local as well and able to be with my mom in the Emergency Room), it’s just me, just us.

Juxtapose.

To what? Not much else.

Gotta take care of family first.