The Loss of a Loved One

Losing a person you care about can be a very tragic ordeal. I have lost both my parents. You never get over it, just through it. I have learned that life is not always fair. August 31, 2010 marks the 31st year of marriage for my parents. I talk about them often in the present because I feel they are still with me in spirit. I am still quite young and did not expect my parents to pass away so soon. I have also learned to expect the unexpected. My siblings call me the strong one. Strength is measured in many different ways. I can perform well under stress, especially if that stress is dealing with a loved one. I asked my mom for some of her strength before she passed away. I think she gave me some (smile). I mentioned in a previous post that my dog Bruno comforts me. He gives me strength. When dealing with death it is easy to fall into a place where you feel no one understands. It may seem that sometimes those closest to you do not care. I have found that reading and allowing myself time to cry helps me deal with the stress of loss.
I have two children who are young, however they are old enough to know loss. The loss they experience may not be at the magnitude of an adult, but who am I to measure. It hurts the worse when they ask about them. I find it hard sometimes to answer them because I am still trying to find answers myself. I feel writing in this blog also helps. I have learned to take life one day at a time and to appreciate the things I cannot replace.