Sad News

After a perfectly lovely day of visiting yesterday with all the ladies in my family, I came home and later got a call from my Mom saying her last remaining sister, My Aunt Ceil, had passed away unexpectedly. Aunt Ceil lived in Ohio so we didn't see her much, but when we did we enjoyed her company tremendously. She was in her 80's but had seemed to be going strong. Her passing was quite a surprise.

I guess I'd like to write this posting more about my Mom than my Aunt Ceil. My mom has had a very tough year.....or year and a half actually. A year ago last fall my Mom lost her sister Terry. My mom and Terry had gotten very close.....Terry had been camping with my Mom and Dad for the past several years and it was a terrible blow. Last June, my mother's twin sister, Dottie, passed away after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. Another terrible blow. Because their father had also died of pancreatic cancer, she was advised to be screened by an oncologist. At that visit they found a lump on her breast which turned out to be cancerous. She then went through four months of chemo and six weeks of radiation. During her radiation, by Dad underwent triple by-pass surgery. And now her last sister has passed away.

Despite all the trials and tribulations, my mom has remained optimistic and strong. She continued her exercise regime at Curves all during the time she was undergoing chemo and radiation, her and my dad went on their planned 50th Wedding Anniversary cruise right in the middle of her chemo treatments and she went to her radiation treatments every morning before spending the day at the hospital when my Dad had her surgery. She's never complained and never fallen into crying "woe is me". She says, "You have to play the cards you're dealt," and she continues on.

Next Sunday is Mother's Day. I wish there was some way I could let my Mother know what a wonderful Mother she truly is.....because she is my inspiration. She shows me every day how to be a strong, confident woman. She shows me how to weather every storm with dignity. Her 50 years with my Dad has shown me the right way to enjoy a marriage. I hope she's around for a long, long time because even though I'm an adult woman, I need her. I need her to keep me strong, to keep me confident, and to continue to remind me of how to be a wonderful wife.