Driving into Ann Arbor this morning, merging onto US 23 South the radio began to play Luther Vandross’ “Dance With My Father Again” which always makes me cry. That got me thinking about whether or not, If I could, I’d bring Dad back for that one last dance.

I decided I wouldn’t, because having to say goodbye forever again would be too hard.

Which led me to thoughts about whether or not, if I could, I’d bring him back for good.

But I remembered how sad he was without Mom. And how lost. I think their relationship with each other superceded their relationship with us. It existed before us, it existed when we were growing up, it existed after we moved out. It still exists now, after us. They belong to each other, they belong together.

As I was coming to that conclusion, finding comfort that they are still together, the radio began to play Sarah McLachlan’s “In the Arms of the Angles”. And then two sandhill cranes flew across the freeway just ahead of me, flying close to each other, low across the road. Together. “In the arms of the angles, fly away from here… In the arms of the angles may you find some comfort here.”

I do.