Today, my best friend, Tony, an Anglican priest, came all the way down from Perth to pray for Anthony, Ming and me and it was beautiful. Ants was up and in his armchair, and awake, but not aware (I hope!) that it was a last rites situation. Tony read prayers and Ming and I also read bits and pieces from the Anglican prayer book – passages that pertained to our situation. Then Tony annointed Anthony with the holy oil that has been sitting on the kitchen mantle piece for years ever since a nun friend blessed him years ago when he was still living at home. Sister Romanus kept her holy oil in one of those now old-fashioned camera film containers and, after so long, it had turned into a putty consistency.
After the formalities, Tony held Anthony’s hand and said his own personal prayer for all of us. While he was doing this, Ming and I also put our hands on Ants. We were all emotional but not to the point of crying, whereas Ants seemed a bit nonplussed but admitted that he understood more than he let on.This was not in reference to the prayers but to our conversation later about his torana! I am curious to find out tomorrow if he remembers today’s experience.
Ming and I will never forget today and, for me, the peacefulness that Tony instilled has slowed my anxious heartbeat into a normal thrum and my tears are less wretched. I don’t feel panicked any more. Anthony is probably going to scare the hell out of me more and more often with these TIAs but the joy of seeing him awake surpasses that. The fact that he appears to be pain-free is a blessing.
Thank you, Tony, for today.