Only 2 things are certain in life. Death and taxes.
On Monday night, November 3 at 10:45 p.m. my mother released all her pain and suffering due to lung cancer.
She stopped smoking in 1960 when she was pregnant with me.
My boss who is an environmental hygienist thought that the cause of her cancer could be radon. My mother lived in an upscale part of Los Angeles not too far from the O.J. happenings of the 90s. I looked on a USGS map and it showed that that part of LA was a hot spot for radon. Yet, she never had her house tested for it.
It took about 5 years for the disease to consume her. I knew she had passed even before my sister had called me. As I was driving home from work at 10:30, a voice in the back of my head started saying "It's ok to go. It's ok to go" over and over again for about 10 minutes. when it stopped, I felt a chill down my spine. I wanted to call my sister who was at my moms side and let her know what I felt. But within 5 minutes of the chill, she called me in a 3 way call with my brother in Sacramento letting me know that mom had passed.
I told my brother and sister what I heard and felt. They said they did not feel anything. My brother said to me that I was "touched by an angel". I know it was her special way of saying good-bye to me. I have always been spiritual but not religious . I reassured my mom that at her funeral, we would celebrate her life.
I collected my personal photos of her, everything from my first haircut to her showing off her cupcakes birthday cake for her 70th birthday. There are more photos of her at her house. I will collect them to make a collage for her guests to enjoy after the services at her house.
I love you mom.
You inspired my creativity and a love for life and adventure.
You brought real magic into my life.
You are at a better place now, away from your pain and suffering.
Sally Alcalay
May 28, 1937 - November 3, 2008
She stopped smoking in 1960 when she was pregnant with me.
My boss who is an environmental hygienist thought that the cause of her cancer could be radon. My mother lived in an upscale part of Los Angeles not too far from the O.J. happenings of the 90s. I looked on a USGS map and it showed that that part of LA was a hot spot for radon. Yet, she never had her house tested for it.
It took about 5 years for the disease to consume her. I knew she had passed even before my sister had called me. As I was driving home from work at 10:30, a voice in the back of my head started saying "It's ok to go. It's ok to go" over and over again for about 10 minutes. when it stopped, I felt a chill down my spine. I wanted to call my sister who was at my moms side and let her know what I felt. But within 5 minutes of the chill, she called me in a 3 way call with my brother in Sacramento letting me know that mom had passed.
I told my brother and sister what I heard and felt. They said they did not feel anything. My brother said to me that I was "touched by an angel". I know it was her special way of saying good-bye to me. I have always been spiritual but not religious . I reassured my mom that at her funeral, we would celebrate her life.
I collected my personal photos of her, everything from my first haircut to her showing off her cupcakes birthday cake for her 70th birthday. There are more photos of her at her house. I will collect them to make a collage for her guests to enjoy after the services at her house.
I love you mom.
You inspired my creativity and a love for life and adventure.
You brought real magic into my life.
You are at a better place now, away from your pain and suffering.
Sally Alcalay
May 28, 1937 - November 3, 2008