Beginning Anew

I love writing about things that happened in my life. I've been told that I've lived a lot of different lives and that statement came to me the other day as I was driving. I don't know what, but it did. I dawned on me that there have been a lot of chapters in my life but it is that way for everyone. We all move from one story to another and then another and another...and I need to record all of mine!

Last year was a tough year as I stepped down from my theater educator / director job to take care of my mother as she entered into the last weeks of her life. I've written a lot about my mom on here. She occupied a lot of my life, my thoughts, my days. I loved her very much - although I fear that she never really knew how much I did love her. She drove me crazy and made me laugh all at the same time. Mom entered the hospital at the end of May and never came home. She entered Hospice in July and passed away on August 19th. The night before, I left the nursing home not really knowing that this was it. I remember this same thing happened with Dad. We just don't realize that they are already making their journey. I would've hugged her a little longer and tighter and told her many more times how much I loved her. If we could only know - would we take those opportunities?

This week, my high school friends and I have experienced the loss of a very colorful classmate - Steve Glover, who suffered a massive heart attack and died. We are saddened and shocked by this loss but it again reminded me that we need to make every moment count. Our loved ones are just that - our loved ones. They may not always be lovable, but no one always is, but that should never keep us from making sure that we take the time to make sure those in our lives are aware that they are important to us.

I'm trying to get a grip on my sorrow and celebrate my parents and our family instead of spending my days crying about being an orphan. I'm writing a play about a time in my life and recalling moments with my parents and my brother is both heartwarming and difficult because you can never get those times back. But that's okay - I just hope that my children have the same fond memories of their childhood and their time with me as I have with my parents.