POSTSCRIPT TO AN EARLIER WRITING: I think of my Mom often as we are in the middle of winter. Of course, that said, I think of Mom often no matter what Season we are in. You see, I lost my Mom last May. She died. She got sick again in March. The day after my Dad sold their home on the Lake. Two days after his 79th Birthday. Four months after they moved into town to be closer to the doctor and hospital. I will not go into details of her illness at this time only to say that I was able to be with her and my Dad a lot during that time, and for that I am eternally grateful. I wrote of her illness a bit earlier on, before I truly knew what was coming. I have to admit that previous writing tells that I did know...and expected the worst to happen. It was my only way of coping at the time...preparing myself for the worst while hoping for the best. I don't want this writing to be a sad session. I want this to be a healing session, for me and for anyone reading this that might be going through some sort of trauma or rough spot in their own life. I celebrate my Mom's Life. I have to admit until now I did not realize how remembering a lost loved one as they were is a blessing and comfort in a time of extreme pain and loss. She was a wonderful woman. She was very talented and intelligent. In her life time she made many friends. Students remembered her teaching enough to come to her funeral 30 years after she taught them in her classes. She found fun in things that most think of as mundane or boring. This wicked sense of humor has passed to me and for that I am extremely proud and thankful. She would laugh her way through everything, even up till the end. One of the last things she said to me was an attempt at humor to put her family at ease...and to ease the looks she must have read on our faces. None of us should ever attempt to play Poker, she would have said had she been able to. Dad is so lost and alone now. He still says "we love you" when we end our telephone conversations. How long does one feel a part of a whole after losing a friend, mate, and confidant of over 60 years? Forever, I would assume...and that is so very understandable. Dad went from sleeping next to the love of his life nightly to taking her to the hospital. There, he ended up sitting by her side on and off for 2 months before she died. We all thought she was going to get better, the signs were all there...we were so hopeful...but it was not to be. I write here about how brave I think my Dad has been while going through all this, he is now fighting his own health concerns. He will turn 80 in March. I only hope this Spring will be a better one for us all. While last Spring, and then this Christmas were rough, it has made me truly appreciative of every little common every day thing in my lil ordinary life. Along with the ups and downs of this past year, there have been many happy times too. That is why I want to celebrate both my Mom and Dad and their Life together. How many can say that they married their child hood sweetheart and had puppy love for 66 years....my Dad can. I will write more about Mom at a later time, she is and always will be on my mind...I love her to this day and feel her around me. I miss her and will always do so. Hugs Mommie, I miss you. Katie