What a week. We moved last weekend (as in December 11-12th). It was a crazy weekend with lots of help and little sleep. Since then I have been "recovering" while unpacking, decorating for Christmas and finishing the actual shopping.
This past weekend I was finally able to unpack a few boxes. Our bedroom furniture was delivered Sat afternoon so I started with those boxes. As I was emptying my nightstand box I found a gift certificate from my mom with her handwriting on the front. I lost it. Full-on sobbing. There was nothing I could do to control myself so I just stood there, crying. Kevin came in and was just there for me. I'm so thankful for him. It wasn't until a few hours later that I realized it was 12/19- the anniversary of losing my mother. I don't know if I knew subconsciously, or it was all of the stress from moving/ Christmas, or probably both, but my goodness I needed that self-indulgence. I felt sad but somewhat refreshed and ready to move forward. Everytime I see that gift certificate, I think about taking it in to see if they will accept it, seven years later, but I love to just have it, in the envelope with her handwriting, and know how much it meant to her to give me that as a gift. It goes along with the old-school popcorn popper and gravy boat I will never get rid of, right sisters? ;)
I am thankful for my husband and my sisters- all of them. We will all be okay. I think. Mom is the constant reminder of how important family is and that we stick together even when we don't like each other because according to mom, "someday we will".
Merry Christmas, Mom.
1 comment:
I know you wrote this ages ago, and probably aren't expecting a comment now, but I felt compelled to say that I can so relate. And that you should save the envelope, take a picture of the gift certificate so you can remember it, and then see if you can use it - I was able to write a letter to the company that issued a gift certificate to my mom, explaining the situation, and they reissued the certificate with no expiration date, 7 years after it had expired. She can still give you that gift she intended to give you : )
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