Take Two

I was planning on doing this particular post and Becky beat me to the punch.  It was seven years ago today that I lost my mother to breast cancer.  I am sporting a pink ribbon today in her memory.  This picture was taken on our last Christmas together.  The cast of characters are (from left) Charity, me, Becky, my dad, my mom (holding Michael), my sister Julie, and my brother Mike.

There is a saying that time heals all wounds and I think that’s true, at least in part.  The pain of the loss is pretty much gone although I do miss her.  She was especially good at providing advice and counsel as well as just fun to be around.  I would love to have gotten her take on some of the stuff over the last couple of years.  She likely would have provided insight that escapes me.  Candidly, I can’t believe it’s been seven years.  At times it seems like it’s been 100 years and at others, like it was last week.  Emotions are fickle things.

Let me close this post with a piece of advice.  Hold close to those you love.  And for goodness sake, tell them you love them.  If I would have know when I graduated from high school that my time with my mom was more than half over I would have done some things differently.  Since you and I don’t know when our numbers are up, make the most of the time you have.  And if your mom’s around, give her a hug for me.