For what seemed like every five minutes for the last five years, they’ve called…
…with a problem.
Some ache or pain, big medical question or lost hearing aid, they’ve picked up the phone and dialed one number…
…yours.
And every time for the last five years, even when you didn’t want to — you’ve been there to answer the call. To solve the problem. To guide them from uncertainty to confidence. From panic to peace.
I’ve watched you adopt a warrior mentality to help your parents at any cost, until they both just took their last breath within four weeks of each other.
Life gets hard. Really hard sometimes.
It smacks us in the face like a ton of bricks. It strikes us in the stomach with a forceful punch. But you didn’t back down, let up, or give in.
And your whole family noticed.
You embraced it — with grace, and care, and love, and empathy. You demonstrated to anyone who met you what love looks like.
You didn’t let two elderly people, on their way out of this world, go with a feeling of hopelessness. A feeling of loneliness. A feeling of being forgotten.
You wouldn’t stand for that. You didn’t stand for that!
And for that Mom — it’s easy to call you the daughter of the century.
At this moment, I have tears in my eyes because my grandparents aren’t here any more. And at this moment, I sit here writing in a dark room, headphones on — thinking about them, and well, thinking about you.
I’m crying because I’m grateful to be YOUR son. I’m honored to tell others, that’s MY mom. Can you believe how amazing she is?
I can…
Watching your strength through this has inspired me to be better. To care for the people in my life more-like how you’ve cared for the people in yours.
If I can do that, I think I’ll make you proud. And if I make you proud, I’ll go to sleep at night with a smile on my face and love in my heart knowing that…
…even though this life thing gets damn hard sometimes, I’ll be okay. Because I’ll know, my mom’s got my back. She can get through anything.
And so can I.
Thanks mom,
I
love you.