It doesn’t get any easier at the three-year mark of Melissa’s passing. It’s interesting and says a lot about her that in the end she was concerned about how I (Mom) would be “after.” So I try to live my life so that Melissa doesn’t worry about me. It is hard work living with only memories of her!
A way of thinking that helps me came from one of our favorite people we knew for a short time - Social Worker John at the University of Michigan Hospital. When he visited Melissa daily in the hospital, he talked with her about what he called “her story” she had written and what she hoped to write. I loved how he talked with her, truly interested in her life story; he made her feel worthwhile, important, valued. And I loved my new thinking about her life as “her story.” He had such an impact on us both.
April 10, 2022 was the single worst day of my life. It should not have been the end of Melissa’s story; she had so much more to write. While she is no longer writing a physical story, remembering every day something from the story she had written is like rereading a really good book - it brings me joy that helps with the sadness.
So, today, I really hope not to worry Melissa by:
trying to think less about the sadness of her story ending too soon. 💔
trying to think more about the joy she gave us while writing her story. ❤️🩹
Rick and I adding to our adventurous life story by taking a road trip on the Pacific Coast Highway to Mendocino in her honor. ❤️
Melissa, Dad and I love you and miss you to the moon and back! 😘😘