This is truly much harder than I thought it would be.  I felt ready and prepared to say goodbye, but I’m learning that losing my mother is losing someone in my life that is so, so unique and is unlike any relationship I’ll ever have again with anyone.

I’ll miss having her unconditional love, someone who was always so happy to hear from me, so happy to see me, and so happy to hear about my life, my boys’ lives, and my grand children’s’ lives.  I’ll miss picking up the phone to call and brag to her about what my boys just accomplished, how my grandkids are doing in school, how they graduated from college, got married, and how great they did in their ball game.

I’ll miss having someone who shares my lifetime of memories, someone who is happy when I’m happy and sad when I’m sad.  Someone who knows me better than anyone else does.

I’ll miss her extended visits at my home, having meals on the back patio, telling me what a great cook I am, helping me pick out furniture or plants, coming with me to Monday night football, luncheons, and dinners with friends, and most of all having her with me at family birthdays and life events.

I’ll miss her great recipes and the funny things she does – like going back to weekly Sunday mass when she made that promise to God if the Saints won the Super Bowl.

Something is so missing in my heart and daily thoughts - I realize it’s the fact that no longer can I hope and pray (like I’ve done every day the past few months) that today will be the day that I learn she’s better and back to her old self.  She had surprised us that way so many times before over the past decade.  But she gave it a valiant try but just couldn't recover from her fall and resulting brain injuries.  

As hard as it is to lose her, I know it was her time to go and be our Dad, her beloved husband Bob, and with other loved ones that preceded her in death.   She’ll be at peace with them and I trust she’ll be with us in spirit until we join her someday.

God I’ll miss her!