I hurried home.  I called my brother, and on a conference call we spoke with intensive care at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Tampa.  My mom was stable and expected to survive the night.  Shortly after a Masonic brother called from the lodge.  I relayed what I knew, and that I would be flying to Tampa the following morning. That was the best Delta could do.  He gave me his 800 number – that way we could stay in touch, and on his dime.

     Mom has a very bad heart, and her lungs had filled with fluids.  Before passing out she fortunately had called 911. By the time emergency arrived she had stopped breathing. The doctors early on determined that she had not had a heart attack.  They continued testing over several days to determine what had happened.  Mom quickly returned to her usual way: she was distressed that she would not be flying to Cincinnati for Thanksgiving.  You see, my brother and his family were to join us for Thanksgiving.  She wanted to spend this time with the grandkids to find out what they wanted for Christmas.  Now Christmas shopping for them would be harder.

     A number of lodge brothers called to find out how mom was, how I was holding up in Florida and whether I could use any help.  I was gone – gone for the stated meeting, gone for the election, gone for the preparation and mailing of the bulletin.  I needed help. Several brethren stepped in.  One evening I spoke with a brother while smoking a Cohiba on the porch of my mom’s house. We celebrated the good news about mom, and we made sure the lodge activities continued.

     Well, mom was discharged.  The doctors never could explain why her lungs congested.  She will be staying with us for the Christmas and New Year’s holidays.  My brother and his family are also visiting.  Mom has never spent Christmas with all the grandkids together, so this will be something new for the family.

     At Linwood we too have something new – a new Master:   WB John Phelps.  I have the honor and privilege of turning over the gavel to a man whom I respect and whom I have come to love.  Those are strong words and not easily said.  Our new master held me while I cried that night at the lodge; he called me at home afterwards to be sure I made it back to the house safely.  He gave me his 800 number, so that the call would be on his dime.  We smoked a cigar while talking on the phone from my mother’s porch.  He was there for me when I could not be here. Brother, if you can this upcoming Masonic year, please be there for your lodge – and for our new master.