This not a story about Mom, but a poem I came across that I thought was important to share.  It was supposedly written by a young girl who was terminally ill, however, I am not able to substantiate it.  A thought provoking poem just the same.  Enjoy....      Mary

Slow Dance

Have you ever watched kids

play on a merry-go-round?

Or listened to the rain

slapping on the ground?

Ever follow a

Butterfly's erratic flight?

Or gazed at the sun

into the fading night?

........

You better slow down.

Don't dance so fast.

Time is short.

The music won't last.

........

Do you run through each day

on the fly?

When you ask "How are you?",

do you hear the reply?

When the day is done

do you lie in your bed,

with the next hundred chores

running through your head?

........

Don't dance so fast.

Time is short.

The music won't last.

........

Ever told your child,

we'll do it tomorrow,

and in your haste

not see his sorrow?

Ever lost touch,

let a good friendship die,

cause you never had time

to call and say "Hi"?

........

Better slow down.

Don't dance so fast.

Time is short.

The music won't last.

........

When you run so fast

to get somewhere,

do you miss half the fun of getting there?

When you worry and hurry

through your day,

it is like an unopened gift,

thrown away.

........

Life is not a race.

Do take it slower.

Hear the music,

before the song is over....

 Growing up on the farm, Aunt Blanche, Dad's youngest sister, was a favorite of mine. We always looked forward to her visits and were thrilled when Mary Jo was born and began visiting us, too.

As special events came and went in our lives, Aunt Blanche never missed sending a card or note. A bit of humor was always tucked in and we thoroughly enjoyed hearing from her.

Aunt Blanche, along with Aunt Mary and Uncle Gilbert, helped us through one of life's most difficult periods... our Jamey's battle with cancer and her eventual death. Trips to Denver Children's Hospital, stays at McDonald House, and everything in between were made less difficult by knowing Aunt Blanche could accommodate us for an overnight and provide tremendous medical insight to the ravages of T-Cell Lymphoma.

Jamey looked forward to Blanche's visits - Blanche referred to herself as the "Bag Lady" and would show Jamey the "stuff" she carried in it. Most importantly, she gave Jamey, Joel, and Jocelyn reasons to smile. Case in point --- one trip to Denver for chemotherapy, Aunt Blanche gave Jamey a big realistic looking rubber spider. She loved it and, to everyone's surprise, hid it under her t-shirt. The scream of the oncology nurse who watched it tumble out that day brought laughter to everyone getting chemo. Soon, nurses and Drs. from elsewhere in the unit were dropping by to see Jamey and to let her know how much fun she had created. She couldn't wait to let Aunt Blanche know what she and the spider had done!

We will miss our Aunt Blanche, the last direct connection to my Dad's family.

Peace and joy, Aunt Blanche. Our love for you endures.

Larry

(Larry and Marty Viterna)