living

My mom was born in 1927 and god willing she'll be 83 in January. Recently she had a car accident which she described as minor, which totaled her car. Now my mom is pretty sharp and very independent and even more so since my dad died in 1980. Anyway, she had this accident and when we spoke on the phone she said she was just fine..you know how mothers are about worrying their children...so I was pretty surprised when my brother John called a few days later to say she was in the hospital. Initially he thought it was a stroke but later on it seems it was, as she described...my brain rattling around in my head! From a neurological standpoint she had suffered from some swelling of the brain that caused some equilibrium problems. She is going to get some physical therapy to help her "remember" how to walk, but otherwise she has been pronounced fit. Mostly she seems annoyed by the inconvenience of it all. When I asked her why she thought she was in the hospital she replied that she was helping finance the first fiscal quarter of the hospital for next year...lol. She's a character that woman!
I've been frightened thinking about losing my mom. Afraid that I would be alone without her to laugh with and bullshit with about cooking and telling dirty jokes! I was completely selfish, wrapped up in my own little sad self. Instead I should be talking to my mom about all the fun she has had in her life, the wonderful friends she has and has had. The adventures she's had and the parties she's thrown. See, my mom has had an incredible rich life. She hasn't had a lot of money yet that never stopped her as she had so much more. She has touched so many peoples lives in ways I don't even think I can begin to understand. She has lived a beautiful life. And continues to do just that...so celebrate with me and celebrate with your mom or your dad and try not to be sad for a loss that hasn't happened but rejoice for a life that has....