He ain't heavy...

Second son arrived home this evening in time for a delayed supper.

Now that I live on my own most of the time, the process by which, three times a year, the family web re-forms and knits together again for a brief interlude, is a peculiar one. Old traditions (usually involving favourite meals and seasonal activities) are revived, familiar jokes and anecdotes rehearsed, memories remembered, arguments replayed, pets greeted - or mourned. Then the process is reversed and the strands unweave again as the members return to their separate destinations leaving me and the animals to resume our quiet lives.

Here, I have slightly accentuated the comradely effect of the pool of light uniting my two sons. I doubt either of them would be caught uttering the words of the song, made famous by the The Hollies in 1969, but I have no doubt they would act accordingly.

The road is long
With many a winding turn
That leads us to who knows where
Who knows where
But I'm strong
Strong enough to carry him
He ain't heavy, he's my brother

So on we go
His welfare is of my concern
No burden is he to bear
We'll get there

For I know
He would not encumber me
He ain't heavy, he's my brother

If I'm laden at all
Then I'm laden with sadness
That everyone's heart
Isn't filled with the gladness
Of love for one another

It's a long, long road
From which there is no return
While we're on the way to there
Why not share

And the load
Doesn't weigh me down at all
He ain't heavy, he's my brother

He's my brother
He ain't heavy, he's my brother