Change on Change on Change

Thank you to all who expressed their sympathy at my mother’s death.  Your words were very comforting.

It’s been a ride the last few weeks.  Dec. 21st I moved out of my apartment, the 23rd I went to San Francisco for a week while all my stuff and cars were in transit.  The 26th my mom passed.  New Year’s Eve I rented an apartment in Wichita then drove to Texas to see my girls.  Moved in that next Wednesday, started work Thursday.  Sunday I flew to New Hampshire for a week of training, then 4 days trying to work on my mom’s house and estate.  I’m an only child and her last relative.

Then 4 days working/unpacking, three in Florida at a trade show, then four here, followed Sunday by a week in New Hampshire for more training  All this continues until the end of the month when it slows way down.

Honestly, being busy made it easier to deal with the loss.  Too busy to realize what happened.   Soon her posessions will be at auction and her house on the market.  Liquidating people is a mini industry.  By spring it’ll be like she was never there.  Of course her memory will live on but anything worldly will be gone.  Strange to think most of us will end up that way.

The new job is good, nice people and challenging work.  Love the apartment, got my cars, and the motorcycles are in one piece!  Wichita is WAY nicer than I expected, very friendly people and more to do than you’d think.  I can’t wait to be fully unpacked and slow up in the travel.

One of these days the ton of bricks will fall on me and I’ll realize how much has change in my life.  The loss and the new opportunities.  Funny how we all process things differently and at different rates.  But until that day thing are pretty good!

Endings and beginnings

We all go through life changes.  Big or small they effect us in different ways.  My mom passed away Christmas Day.  She was 81 years old.

It happened while I was traveling and relocating with the new job.  My dad passed many years ago.  It’s funny the memories you have when someone close to you dies.  Strangely, I have memories back to when I was 3 or 4 years old.  But mostly I remember her taking care of us; cooking, cleaning, being there for us.  It sounds simple and “housewifey” but it was important to us and the role typical of that time.

I do have some advice for all of you.  Leave a will, let the important people in your life know where it is.  Discuss your wishes for what you want after you pass, organize your papers, have a plan.  It will make all the difference to those left behind.  Even if you don’t discuss specific financial numbers just knowing where things are will be a big help.  And you’ll never be fully ready, even if you prepare it hits you hard.