Sunday, February 21, 2021

Life: It Goes On - February 21

Life: it goes on. Those words have never struck me as so true as they have in the past ten days. On February 11th, my mom sat down to take a nap and never woke up. I am gutted and, yet, somehow those of us she left have to figure out how to go on. She was, as so many have noted, our center. She was the organizer, the family's biggest cheerleader, the person whose life focused on caring for and about others. 

Twenty-eight years ago she was diagnosed with congestive heart failure; we thought we were going to lose her. Thanks to amazing doctors, she lived to see the birth of two more grandchildren; the high school and college graduations; the marriages of five of her grandchildren; and the births of three great-grandchildren. She was so excited to be able to call me recently to tell me that a fourth great-grandchild would arrive this summer. She was our rock, the person who helped hold me together then the Big Guy was battling cancer, when we nearly lost Mini-me, and as Miss H went through recovery from addiction. I don't know how I go on without our center, my rock, my best friend. But I know I have to do that. I know I have to go on. My mom would want that. 


17 comments:

  1. Lisa, I am so sorry for your loss, may happy memories sustain you and your family. Lovely picture as well.

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    1. Thank you so much. I'm only just now able to come back to this post. I knew it would be hard; I had no idea how hard.

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  2. I'm so sorry for your loss. I hope you can find the time to celebrate your mom's life in whichever way possible. <3

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  3. So very sorry for your loss. Much love to you and you family.

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  4. So very sorry for your loss. Much love to you and your family.

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  5. Oh, Lisa... I am so sorry! Your whole family is in my prayers.

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    1. Thank you, JoAnn. The comfort of others has meant so much these past months.

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  6. Aw, hon. I saw the FB posts and I am just so sorry for your loss. I remember when my mom passed, we had many issues and our relationship was not close but it was still a blow that took me out for months, if I am being honest. All I can tell you is that you must rest. Grief is exhausting. It helped so much to nap here and there. Just too many memories and so much planning to do. Your mom lived an amazing life!! Battling heart failure and then going on to see all those babies being born. Amazing. Thinking of you all during this time.

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    1. Thanks, Ti. When I first read your comment (and I did read them, just didn't get them posted or responded to) I had no idea how right you were about grief being exhausting. Between that and CoVid, I still don't feel like I have the energy I did on December 31, 2020. All of the firsts without her and all of the out-of-the-blue things just wipe me out.

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  7. I'm so sorry for your loss, Lisa. My thoughts are with you and your family.

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  8. This is very hard for you Lisa. I'm sorry for your loss. I continue to think of you and your family. Take care.

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    1. Thank you, Linda. Everyone's kind words mean so much.

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  9. My heart goes out to you, Lisa. It won't always hurt this much even though it might give you a gut-punch now & then. Hang in there.

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    1. Thank you, Debbie. You are so right. The everyday pain is less seven months out but it still feels like there are daily reminders that she is not here that gut punch me.

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  10. Thank you, Vicki. We know we were blessed to have her for so long; I can't imagine how much it must have hurt losing your mom when you were younger.

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