#tbt. A month and 4 days ago my mother’s soul left her earthly body and floated off into, what I believe, was a place free of pain, sorrow and sadness. I didn’t focus on the one month milestone. Instead, I tried to stay busy and focus on my memories. And, the days have gotten easier. 

This morning, I got a God-wink to let me know I was on the right path. I turned on my personal laptop to add my monthly bills into the bill pay calendar and I hit the mouse pad. My cursor jumped to the ifly folder, which had pictures of my indoor skydiving trip with my mom in 2019. 

So much has changed in a year, I thought. aunt Debra, who taught me to say I love you to family every chance you get,  passed away. Weeks later, my fiancé’s aunt Kathy died. She showed me you could be straight shooter and also have a kind and giving heart. 7 months later, my aunt Lola died. She taught me that loving someone means you do what you can to improve the quality of their lives.  4 months later, my mother passed away.

In the folder with the ifly photos, I found a note I’d saved from my mom. 

“It was a fabulous day and I THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU for setting this up and doing this.  I can never explain to you how much I appreciate yesterday and how it made me feel to have this experience, this day at iFly — not to mention the people we hung out with.  It was very uplifting (no pun intended) and has me still “glowing” this morning.  Much LOVE to you for doing this.  I cannot express how much the day meant to me.  I have tears in my eyes just thinking about how great it was.  There are no words to say how much gratitude I have for you (and our friends) for participating.  I will never forget this day and it is because of you.  LOVE YOU, LOVE YOU, LOVE YOU.  You are the best daughter ever!!!!!!”

My mother taught me that while you are living, fly high and as often as you can. Experience things with people you love. It makes life more fun, more manageable and more memorable. 

#scleroderma #cancer #cancersucks #mothersanddaughters #blackfamily #invisibleillness #chronicillness #autoimmunedisease #chronicpain #spoonie #death #grief #ifly #friendship