Life can turn upside down in a heartbeat — or in a lack of a heartbeat.
Last year I told you about my father’s passing after a long, difficult illness. At the time I wrote, “My father’s death has reminded me — viciously and viscerally — just how short life is. If you delay your plans, hopes and dreams too long, you may never experience their reality.”
Today I am trying to cope with the loss of my mother, who went suddenly. One day she seemed healthy, the next she was on medication for heart irregularities, and then she was gone. I’m glad she didn’t have the long, drawn-out suffering that my father did, but the family is in shock.
I’ll remember her for a lot of things — after all, we did have a 50-plus year history together.
Most recently, though, I appreciate her encouragement about our plans to move overseas. Just after my husband and I returned from our Panama scouting trip, she told me she was proud of us and thought we were very forward thinking.
I hope we can continue to make her proud by fulfilling the hopes, plans and dreams we have for our lives.
I’m sorry to hear about your mother, and I’m glad she did not suffer long.
It sounds like life is making way for you, step-by-step to pursue your goal of moving overseas.
Thanks, Lynne. It’s certainly a shock, but it won’t change our long-term plans.
So sorry to hear about your loss. My most sincere condolences to you, and how wonderful that she encouraged you in your pursuit of the expat life. Now you can move forward knowing she is rooting for you.
Sarah, thanks. Yes, my mother was surprisingly encouraging, and that means a lot right now.
I’m so sorry to hear of your mothers passing. My condolences to you and your family. What a wonderful person to encourage you in your dreams.
Brenda, thanks. The most surprising thing to me about my mother’s encouragement was that she gave it very sparingly. She was not a person who made encouraging or supportive statements lightly.
Sorry to hear about her passing. It’s great she gave you her blessing to seek your dreams, and a wonderful memory to have of her.
Thanks, Rich. Yes, it is a memory I’ll cherish. She was a remarkable woman. . .