December Mourning

DECEMBER MOURNING

More Erica’s Less Dick Cheney’s

I usually don’t write about the personal but this is different. Erica never got to see the end of the error.

Today, my stepmother died, she died very young, fifty years old from the combination of a brain tumor and a stroke, complicated by Multiple Sclerosis. It’s difficult to lose anyone especially someone so young, so full of life, and with so much to live for.

I saw her alive for the last time last night, unconscious, aided by oxygen, prayed with her and said my goodbyes. She had been generally non-communicative for a couple of weeks as she moved to her eternal rest. She did have a chance to tell her sister her words of advice for all of her kids and grandkids. Three things that all of us should think about.

“Graduate from High School”
Erica and one of my sisters both dropped out of high school for a while and ended up going back for a diploma. This initial step is an amount part of any life journey.

“Feed the Birds”
Erica was notorious for her birdfeeders, it was part of her daily routine, and birds would return the favor with their visual beauty and song.

“Have a Garden”
Flowers, vegetables, herbs, the dirty work, the patience, the maintenance and the reward, all parts of life. Whenever I see a tulip, I’ll think of Erica.

More Erica’s, less Cheney’s. America would be a better place.