The Daily writing prompt asks to “Describe a phase in life that was difficult to say goodbye to.

It was hard to say goodbye to the last 3 days. Spending time with my better half away in a relaxed setting and no obligations. Just ourselves to ourselves. Not that I don’t enjoy being home or with people. It’s hard to get that relaxed time to ourselves for more than a part of a day sometimes.

That’s my short-term answer. My real answer is below.

When our parents passed this was probably the most difficult phase of life and still is at times. The world changes if you have very loving parents and they are no longer there. Few know you better, are more supportive, and have unwavering love for you.

In some ways, I never want to say goodbye. When I visit my parent’s grave at Arlington National Cemetery I always stand there talking to them, updating them on events, their grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

I had to say goodbye to them at two very different stages of life. Dad died very young and therefore I was very young (9) and didn’t know how to handle it at all. Mom lived a long life but suffered from dementia late in life and as a caregiver that brought its challenges, now I find the humor in that was difficult to see at the time.

I was with them both when they passed. I never got a chance to say goodbye to my father, he was unconscious when I found him dying suddenly. I had time to say a lot to my mom while she was older before her mind started to slip and even then I would say things to her that I think she understood by the smile she had. But she was also unconscious for the last several days in hospice but I would talk to her all day long still.

Life does go on. I’m so busy with my children and grandchildren that I don’t speak to my parents every day now. Sometimes a wink or smile at a picture of them. Or I’ll see a 57 Chevy that my dad had and pause. I’ll be sorting some old things and run across something of theirs. I was cleaning my workroom and ran across an old medical kit from my dad from WWII the other day.

There is that phase where you are forced to say goodbye, but in some ways you never do.