LIVING LIFE FULLY ON BORROWED TIME

It’s been one year since you took your last breath on Earth and left us. At times it seems so long ago and other times it seems like it was only yesterday we let you go. Not a single day has gone by that we both share roller coaster of emotions from tears of sadness or sharing a good laugh with you. I don’t think you ever get over losing someone as much as you learn to get along each hour, each day, each month and my guess each passing year, just memories begin to fill the places of emptiness and pain.

I imagine you were greeted by welcoming audiences filled with love as we sent our love and said our good-byes. I can faintly hear family and friends who arrived before you chattering about. I see shadows of a joyful reunion when you made your rounds to see all those people who missed you since their arrival. You no longer have to rush anywhere and are free stay a little longer and not have to worry about all the unfinished things left to do. The clock seems to have no hands where you are and leaves you with no set time to hurry you along.

Despite your chair sitting vacant most of the day, there’s always something to make us remember the time spent together and the love we shared. I have your cap from our trip to Costa Rica sitting on one of my dining room chairs, reminding me of our adventure on the Panama Canal cruise. It greets me when I walk in the door and keeps me at peace as I leave the security of my own home. There are times I feel you visiting and sharing your words of wisdom, laughing with me and even times beaming with pride at my accomplishments or even losing your temper at my inept handyman skills.

Within the short period of the first three months we were immediately assaulted with having to share your passing on Thanksgiving Day with family and friends both far and near, to finding ways to carry-on and get through days of special significance of my birthday, Christmas, New Year’s, your anniversary and then Mom’s birthday. Although we never made a big deal of these days, it was a special day for the three of us to be together as a family. The next six months we coped through Easter, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and your birthday. We even managed to find a way to honor you by enjoying one of your favorite lunches. Finally, the last three months, were without any major days of special significance but still not a moment goes by without us reminiscing. 

While so many of us miss your presence, hearing your voice, share a story or just reminisce of days past we accept you’re at peace, free of pain, no longer carrying worries or troubles or limited by your abilities. One year has come and gone this Friday, November 24, 2017, it seems like only yesterday that you took your last breath and you silently said good-bye and left us. Your zest to live was proven time and time again as you had always overcome each health challenge thrown at you. This fierce tenacity remained strong to the end, but this time you were called to heaven as your time on Earth was on borrowed time.

We will continue to celebrate you on days of special significance by reminiscing and finding peace in the simple things you enjoyed and living life to the fullest. It’s from this view, off the dock at our cottage, I realize in life, time doesn’t stand still for any of us. As time remains the only constant in life, we are then left with no choice but to live life fully until it’s our time to say good-bye and reunite with those who have made this journey before us.