Thanks for everything, Mom
On August 13, my mother passed away at the age of 79. It wasn't unexpected. She had been in a nursing home for the past 3 years, and for the majority of that time she had maintained her wits and relatively good health, despite being confined to her bed. However, in the past few weeks, I watched her gradually decline. She started forgetting things. Then one week she got sick. She recovered, but afterward she developed a shake in her arms. The last couple of weeks were the hardest. I could see she was having trouble breathing, and when she spoke it was barely more than a whisper.
I visited her the Monday and Tuesday before she passed away. On Monday I got a call from her saying that she was feeling lonely and scared. I rushed up to see her after work. On Tuesday morning, I got another disoriented call from her, and I rushed up to see her before work. I couldn't be with her on Wednesday, but fortunately my niece and grand nephew were able to keep her company. Shortly after they left, I got the call that she passed away.
I'm fortunate to have 3 great sisters. Wednesday was hard, but Thursday was much easier with my sisters by my side to make the funeral arrangements and to pack up her room. My sisters and I can always laugh even in the saddest situations.
I'm fortunate that I had a great relationship with my mom. I was the youngest, and I think her favorite. My mom was a homemaker, so until I was old enough to go to school, or old enough to stay home alone, I followed my mom everywhere.
She taught me everything. She taught me how to swim. She taught me how to cook. She taught me how to sew. She taught me pride in my Lithuanian heritage. So it was with great honor when I finally got to visit Lithuania in 2005, and got to share my trip with her through pictures.
I think I've been handling her death relatively well. It is somewhat of a relief, knowing that she is at rest. Living in a nursing home for 3 years, is a heck of a way to live. I've moved on with my life, but she is still fresh in my memory. Like when I was watching the Penn State football game, and I thought I'll have to call my mom to see what she thought of the game, and then I realized...oh, I guess not. But then I just laughed, and thought of the fond memories.
Thanks for the memories, Mom.
I visited her the Monday and Tuesday before she passed away. On Monday I got a call from her saying that she was feeling lonely and scared. I rushed up to see her after work. On Tuesday morning, I got another disoriented call from her, and I rushed up to see her before work. I couldn't be with her on Wednesday, but fortunately my niece and grand nephew were able to keep her company. Shortly after they left, I got the call that she passed away.
I'm fortunate to have 3 great sisters. Wednesday was hard, but Thursday was much easier with my sisters by my side to make the funeral arrangements and to pack up her room. My sisters and I can always laugh even in the saddest situations.
I'm fortunate that I had a great relationship with my mom. I was the youngest, and I think her favorite. My mom was a homemaker, so until I was old enough to go to school, or old enough to stay home alone, I followed my mom everywhere.
She taught me everything. She taught me how to swim. She taught me how to cook. She taught me how to sew. She taught me pride in my Lithuanian heritage. So it was with great honor when I finally got to visit Lithuania in 2005, and got to share my trip with her through pictures.
I think I've been handling her death relatively well. It is somewhat of a relief, knowing that she is at rest. Living in a nursing home for 3 years, is a heck of a way to live. I've moved on with my life, but she is still fresh in my memory. Like when I was watching the Penn State football game, and I thought I'll have to call my mom to see what she thought of the game, and then I realized...oh, I guess not. But then I just laughed, and thought of the fond memories.
Thanks for the memories, Mom.