Each of us has experienced days in our lives that will be ingrained in our memories forever. Sometimes they are good events and sometimes bad ones. This day is one of the bad ones for me.

I was so excited this day 9 years ago that I had gotten off of work early and I was beating the afternoon rush hour home. I was cruising along slower than normal because I had time to get home and do a few chores before going back out to visit my Mom. It was almost an identical weather day to today. Bright, sunny, warm, and a nice breeze.

I was coming up Rt 29 in front of Columbia and I glanced over at Lake Kittamaqundi when my cell phone rang. It was my mother’s nursing home and they said she wasn’t responsive and on her way to the hospital. That moment and the few days that followed was the beginning of the end of her life.

Everyone’s Mom is special. But my Mom had taken on a duel role in my life because my Father passed so early. So this day and the 12 that followed were some of the toughest in my life.

After a few days in the hospital, the doctors told me she had maybe a day or two because of the massive stroke she suffered. So we began hospice care and to my shock, she lasted 9 days. I was thankful that I had the chance to say a lot of things while staying with her. I was thankful that I was there with her at the end. I was thankful that she wasn’t suffering any longer because I know she didn’t want to exist like that.

The night she passed there was a severe line of thunderstorms going over. It finished and then she was gone. Almost like it came to sweep her up with them. After a few hours with hospice people and a phone call to my sister, I headed out at daybreak. It was still damp but the morning sun was trying to come out from the remaining clouds. I remember carrying the flowers out that I had gotten for her.

Each year this series of days are kind of tough to remember but I do because sometimes the tough memories are hard to forget. But I also remember the many marvelous days, weeks, months, and years she gave me. I find the pictures of her smiling and I look at those when it gets tough to remind me of the person I cherished and not the ones of her in her final days. I went to visit her on Mother’s Day last weekend and I’ll be back over in several days to pay my respects again on the day of her passing.

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Random Thoughts of the Day

• My better half and I took a ride with the top down today and it was beautiful. There were a lot of people out and about and I was glad to see just about everyone wearing a mask.
• I feel much better now after scheduling a few days of vacation from work. Yes, you need vacation if you work from home also.
• What a weekend weather-wise.
• Time still goes by quickly in the stay at home era.
• Images of the beach have me both excited and scared. At least I have some more time to make up my mind if we are going this year.