Happy Birthday Mom! Although she's loathe to admit it, my mother just turned 86. It's been a rough year for her, especially lately, not so much by age consuming her, but her friends.
Thursday was my 52nd birthday and I didn't get a call from her, something she's done for years and years. I knew something was wrong.
Her best friend, Flossy, 86 herself, died unexpectedly. A couple of weeks earlier, her son, Ronny, died unexpectedly. And a couple of weeks prior to that, Flossy's brother died. I saw Flossy at Ronny's wake. She's been battling cancer for a couple of years, but she looked good. Cancer didn't get her. A broken heart did.
Mom and Dad have been married for 63 years. And, for most of those years, they've had a circle of friends, people I've known most of my life. And now, they're watching them die, one by one, I'm sure wondering when one of them will be next. It's a lottery that nobody wants to play.
So, I want to take this time to tell you, Mom, that I love you, that I feel your heartache, that anytime something hurts you, it hurts me. I'm not going to say how it will be better and all of that. Those are just words. But, I will stand by you and so will anyone who knows you. It's your birthday, I wish it was happier.
Tom: my Dad preceeded my Mom's passing. The hard part is being one of the last ones of your crowd, he told me. All your pals are gone, and then, your partner dies (it did not happen to him but it did to my Mom). Nothing is more difficult than growing so old, older than they did 50 years ago, and no one wants to opt out early.
ReplyDeleteI just lost a 33 year old pal, Michael O'Neil, who did not wake up one morning in L.A. I worked for his Dad (my age) who is just heart broken at the loss. I found that spending as much time on the phone and in person with the parents makes you feel OK after they move off. Do (I know you will) the best you can to be the son they love.
Happy Birthday Mrs. Erdman!
ReplyDeletei want to say
ReplyDeletehappy birthday for your mom
i hope Godbless us
regard
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