Today my company sent out an email featuring all the employee work anniversaries for the month. My name was listed along with my start date. It is bittersweet. As I am thankful to continue to work and have a job, I also remember my mother who passed away on my first day of work. Both of my parents are deceased now, and they are a reminder to say I love you to all I hold dear still living.
Before my father passed away, I missed the opportunity to tell him I loved him. One fall weekend, my father called. I did not answer the call and thought I would call him later, I have time. A couple of days later, I was at work when I got the call that he had passed. Not only did I grieve his passing, I grieved my failure of not telling him I loved him when the opportunity was there. I had time, but my father didn’t.
Ten years later, my mother was in hospice. She was not cognizant, but I made it a priority to tell her I loved her before she passed. I called because I lived far away, and asked the nurse to put the phone to her ear as she was transitioning. I told her, “Mommy, I love you”. My sister, who was in her room at the time would later reveal that my mother responded to my words.
After my father, I don’t ever want to miss an opportunity to tell my family and friends that I love them. The regret I felt, due to my failure to act in my father’s final days was the last lesson he taught me. So today, on the anniversary of my mother passing, I am lovingly reminded to say I love you.
