Dear Anonymous,
Today Mike is able to manage a smile. He says, 'Told you I was gonna be here this morning!' I am relieved to see him. We pass out coffeecake to men who have assembled.
He tells me he is involved in a clinic and that the clinic has art therapy, so he can paint with a group. He seems excited about it. We shall see. He tells me a friend visited last night and he cooked sausage for them. And that that felt good. In his own home. The same home he tried to end his life in. It's always more complicated.
We load up a backpack with socks for so and so, and leggings for so and so, and a fleece for so and so. He holds his medicine pouch as we speak.
I try and relay the messages of love and support you have left for him (he is not on Facebook presently) and I think he can hear it without being overwhelmed or thinking I am making it up. But there is non stop chatter all around. Everyone talks over everyone. There is a lot of talking at times and maybe less listening. I think sometimes there's a huge level of distraction and also that they may not be unaccostomed to being listened to. And , of course, this too is more complicated.
The men take clothing items from the bin, and back packs and help me place it back in the car.
Thank you Dear Anonymous, all of you.