Lately many friends I know have been suffering from loss. Parents and spouses, children and pets. While I know that death is inevitable, it does not stop us from having the sorrow and the mourning that goes with the process. Whether old or young, sick or healthy, death really sucks and it makes it hard for those of us left behind to continue, yet continue we must.
My mother died while I was a young adult and it taught me something that I have held deep inside of me for years. NEVER WAIT!If there is something you want to do – DO IT! Make memories with people. That way you will remember them and they will remember you. Never pass up the opportunity to tell someone that you love them. You never know when it will be the last time. Don’ t hold grudges, it just makes you negative and wastes time from doing the things you want.
Finally – Never forget your loved one. Tell stories, remember all the good times, gloss over the bad. Keep pictures handy and it’s OK to cry.
This was my Dad’s last Thanksgiving – we knew that his life was coming to an end – he had lived more than 92 years and it was a pretty good life. He fought in WWII, was a design engineer, outlived four wives, travelled and did wood working almost until the day he died. He was also very funny – when I entered his apartment after he had passed there was a folder on his desk marked with a post it note saying, “Laura open this folder first when I am dead.” In it were all of his arrangements and a personal note telling me how much he loved me and that there were no insurance policies because he turned them all in. Of course, he was wrong, I mention this to him everyday, there were two policies that I’m not even sure he knew about. So I took that money and went on a trip. I like to call it the Bob Tykol memorial cruise.
I think of him everyday and now that I have shared this so will you. If you feel moved please tell me a story about one of your loved ones.
The World According to Laura 