b'I vividly recall how often Carolyn would look out the front door to see if Matthew might be sleeping out on the porch swing, having come home in the middle of the night. That was hope in action. Well, Matthew didnt come home. Weeksoften Carolyn would look out the front door to turned into monthsmonths became a year.see if Matthew might be sleeping out on the porch Then twothreefourfive. Still noswing, having come home in the middle of the Matthew. Still no word. But we never lost hopenight. That was hope in action. That was Carolyn that Matthew would return. It was all we had toholding on to hope. Well, seven years came and hold on to since we assumed he was still alive.went. Still no Matthew. Hope dashed. A reed After Matthew had been gone several years,bruised. But a smoldering wick not stuffed out. with me continuing my daily Google searches,We hung on to hope.Carolyn was struck with this notionthis hope, if you willthat Matthew, like King Nebuchad- Holding on to hope nezzar (who had lost his mind, but had it restoredA nd then there are the robocalls. You know after seven years), would have his mind restoredhow that is. Phone rings. You say hello, as well and show up on doorstep at the seventhbut there is no one there. Silence, as the year, healthy, of sound mind, whole, saying,automated dialer notifies somebody that a live Mom and Dad, Im home. I vividly recall howperson is on the line. In the silence, instead of 8 WWW.CITYGATENETWORK.ORG NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2022'