With heartfelt appreciation..

Thank you all for your kind words of sympathy and friendship regarding Mom’s passing. They’ve given me great comfort.

We buried Mom last Monday, which was a CRAZY rainy and windy day. I was sure that the tent that they had erected at the gravesite was going to blow away and it was probably Mom’s last hurrah. We joked that the weather was befitting of her personality – you remembered her when you met her. My friend Nancy was standing next to me holding back the tent so that it didn't knock me onto the casket.

I’ve been blessed with the amazing fortune of a close knit group of girlfriends who were there for me the day of the service. Nancy, Michelle and I spent the rest of the afternoon shopping because, you know, nothing heals like some power shopping.

I took all of last week off and continued my power shopping through the week. I've been fine as long as I keep myself busy. Now, I'm not ignoring my grief. You know no one advocates feeling things more than me and there's nothing like the cathartic power of a good cry. It's just different than it was with Dad. I'm sad that she's gone but I'm so at peace knowing that she's with Dad and her parents and brothers. They always had so much fun together.

I'm sure I don't have to tell any of you that the waves of sadness come at odd times. I went to her house and was going through some things the other day. I didn't shed a tear the whole time until I got to the grocery store and passed the pudding snack cups. She loved those things. Clean up in Aisle 8!

Besides, I know she'll never really be gone. She's been telling Lisa and I for years that she's going to come back and haunt us. Maybe I'll have a medium come in to see what Mom has to say. I'm sure it will be something like this.

"Did you join Weight Watchers yet? And what kind of hairstyle is that?!"

Love you, Mom~