Read at your own risk, you have been warned............. Ive been seeing a LOT of posts lately about Moms, cherishing Moms, losing Moms, a whole variety of posts. It has left me being flooded with the memories of my own loss. Mom was sick for several years. She was on full time oxygen for at least 5+ years. In late 96 she was recommended for hospitalization but refused. She was not about to leave her beloved home on the waters of Hood Canal in WA. In early 97, they moved her bed (hospital type) downstairs so she could see the view of the canal and the Olympic Mountains. I instinctively knew time was short. I was in the final semester of my Bachelors degree and was working really hard on it with a certain level of pride. I was due to receive that degree on Mothers Day that year and was the only one of us 4 boys to receive a degree. I was looking forward to presenting it to Mom. I was also doing my internship at the Red Cross at Ft. Wainwright here in Fairbanks. Right about the time of Spring break, I knew I had to get down there but didnt have the funds to make the trip. The folks at Red Cross knew about it and helped me out. So in March of 97 I made the trip down and was so glad I did. I walked in when I got there and was shocked at her appearance. She had always been small in stature but was also a real dynamo. She was so frail, so weak that I almost didnt recognize here. Anyway, we got to spend some time together but time was short and soon it was time to head back. It was at this point that I got one of the greatest gifts I could have received. I dont know how many of you have ever read, Ill Love You Forever, but on the day I headed back, I got to LIVE that story. I was sitting on the bed next to her when I was moved to just pick her up and hold her on MY lap and we just rocked back and forth like that for a while. Finally, I whispered in her ear...........Mom, Ill love you forever........... I should note that I didnt know about that book at that time, I was given a copy of it about 6 months after that day and was quite shocked to read our story. I got back home and knew that had been the last time I would see Mom alive. The week before Mothers Day, on that Sunday, I was ferociously finishing off my final papers which were due the following day...........about 2 in the afternoon, I suddenly broke down completely just sobbing for no apparent reason. Not 3 minutes later, my brother Dave called with the news, Mom had just passed.......................I asked Dave to please put the phone to her ear, and I whispered, Mom, Ill love you forever.................... Dad came up that next week to attend my graduation and he brought some of Moms ashes with him. She had a strong desire to be placed in as many rivers as possible cause she wanted to travel the world. So the morning of my graduation, we sent to the convergence of the Tanana and Chena rivers and spread her ashes. (Same place Id do the same for Dad in 8 more years). At the graduation, when my time came, they called my name and I could hear Dad and the kids clapping. I received my diploma, walked across the stage and stopped dead center, looked up at the roof and said....THIS IS FOR YOU MOM!..................... Ill love you forever Mom..........................
Posted on: Mon, 12 Jan 2015 21:05:56 +0000
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