A Writer's Notebook, Two-Thousand-Three-Hundred-And-Nine

My mother received word today that her oldest friend, someone she has known since childhood, is in the hospital on life support, and is already brain-dead.  Her friend had been sick, but this was unexpected, and she is, understandably, upset.  Melissa and I went out for dinner with her, just to try and give her some company and something to do.  I suppose that is the best that we can do for her right now.