My family started 2014 full of so much excitement and joy. Harvey was born on January 12th, and we just knew it was going to be a great year. It was a great year. However, it was also a year of great loss. Just to name the three deaths that were closest to me:
- The next day my favorite aunt died.
- Two months later my sister-in-law died.
- Three months after that my maternal grandmother died.
I mean, DAMN. Last year was rough…really, really rough…but I’m finally healing enough to take a step back and see how those deaths affects others around me – especially my Mom.
Today is my Mom’s birthday (Hi, Mom! Happy Birthday!). When my Aunt died last year, it honestly wasn’t until Jaime died two months later that it clicked in my brain that my Aunt Kim was my Mom’s Jaime. She was the person my Mom called when she was sad, mad, or just plain laughing her butt off about our crazy family! My Mom losing Kim was like me losing Jaime — you know, with an extra 30 years of friendship and stories behind it. That’s tough for me to even imagine.
***** Jaime & Kim, November 2013 *****
Beautiful women, inside and out.
So today, on her birthday, I wanted to write my Mom a quick letter. When you lose people, it makes you realize that life is a fragile thing. You never know when speaking to someone if it will be the last time. Chose your words carefully. Tell people you love them. You don’t want to live with regrets.
*****
Dear Mom,
I’m so sorry I didn’t understand your loss at the time it happened. As much as I grieved Kim’s passing last January, I somehow completely missed the connection/realization that she was your Jaime…that she was your person. You lost your close friend and sister-in-law. I hate that I didn’t truly understand your loss until I went through it myself 61 days later.
I just wanted to make sure that I’ve told you that I love you to the moon & back…and that I’m sorry for your loss, and that I miss Kim, too.
I am so thankful that you are in my life and that you are a huge part of my children’s lives. I am so proud of the woman you are and the woman you taught me to be by always living a life full of love and respect.
Happy 60th Birthday, Mom. You are nothing but the best. I hope and pray we get another 30 healthy, happy years together.
I love you. xoxo
JJ
