Seriously, this winter has sucked. My Dad, who has not been well for a long time, died in January. I spent about half the month or more back in PA. I visited him in the hospital and he had been on an upswing most of the time I was there. He had some of his sass back and was giving people a hard time. You know, for S & G’s. He was funny like that. Then, as I was driving home he took a turn for the worse. It’s hard to resolve it all in my mind. He wasn’t so bad when I left, but 24 hours after I was back here in North Carolina…. he was gone.

I week later I returned to PA for his funeral. It is all so surreal. And watching my Mum, I see where I found the strength when my husband died nearly 10 years ago. She has her moments, but I see that wall going up. She knows that there is no right or wrong way to get through this and she will find her way in her new life. I’m proud of her. She’s a tough cookie with a soft heart.