Ambiguity

Well, it looks like my mom is going to pull through again. This is the second time in a week that we've had major incidents that made us feel like this might be it. My mom has had ALS for 9 years. There's no cure and the effects are irreversible. The average prognosis from onset is around 5 years.

In a case like this, one can be excused feeling a bit torn. I don't really feel like expounding on the meaning of life at the moment, but I can't help thinking about it a bit. On one hand, life is precious and even the shadow of my mother that remains is a big part of my father's life. On the other hand, she was such a vibrant, active person that I can't imagine that she'd want to continue in this state indefinitely. Life versus death is about as clear a distinction as can be made. However, a person reasonably take the view that life should be extended as long as possible and just as reasonably take the view that it would be a blessing to everyone if it was just over. I don't find the existence of two diametrically opposed views so interesting. What's interesting is that I can feel them both simultaneously.