Mom

It's hard to believe that just February of this year I wrote a post entitled, Sieze The Day

about saying "good-bye" to Mr. O's Mom and here I am just a little over 6 months later having said "good-bye" to my Mom.

Mom passed away with her family by her side on Saturday, Aug. 20, 2011

I can't begin to count how many times people spoke to us about how tough Mom was; and she was. She fought through cancer and beat it over 7 years ago; came back from a life threatening car accident a little over 2 years ago and battled bravely through 3 major surgeries in 9 days this July. I believe she battled back each time for us. This time however her body was just too tired to fight any longer.

It's funny how you can be so "tough" for yourself and yet so tender when it comes to dealing with others but that's just the way Mom was. My words are totally insufficient to say how much she was loved and how much she will be missed.

The Dash

by Linda Ellis

I read of a man who stood to speak

At the funeral of a friend

He referred to the dates on her tombstone

From beginning to the end

He noted that first came the date of her birth

And spoke the following date with tears,

But he said what mattered most of all

Was the dash between those years

For that dash represents all the time

That she spent alive on earth.

And now only those who loved her

Know what that little line is worth.

It matters not how much we own;

The cars, the house, the cash,

What matters is how we live and love

And how we spend our dash.

Joyce Vivian Harvey n. Leach

April 1, 1935 - August 20, 2011

Rest In Peace