I know everybody has bad days, weeks, and yes even months. This is my story. I am posting this not for sympathy but for a way for me to start healing and get back to life. About a month ago I was taken to the ER for chest pains. I had to leave my 2 young children in the custody of police until family could come to the house and take over the kids. A week later I was layed off from my job. If not for the financial security of the job it wouldn't be a big thing but I've got 3 kids. Boys even. A week after that my mother passed away unexpectedly. She was old but not ready to die, not even close. She died on 3/10/07. My brothers and I were lucky enough to spend her last hours with her and we had the chance to say good bye and tell her how much we loved her. Well both brothers and I thought we would make the box for her ashes. It was a way for us to say a final thank you and good bye. The box turned out fantastic, she and Dad would have been proud. I took this shot hoping to start the healing for me, and in some ways it has. One thing that has been made very clear to me is to tell the ones you love how you feel. Don't let it wait, for you never know when they will be gone. Thanks for letting me share, its been a post filled with a lot of tears, tears that I haven't wanted to let out. Thank you.
I empathise, and your post brought my own tears back.
My mother passed away suddenly in late September, and to compound the pain of not getting a chance to say goodbye is the guilt of not finding her until 4 days later.
Being executor as well as having my own family to tend to, I still haven't had time to properly grieve and it's definitely manifesting itself this month as the work is winding down and I have time to think and feel.
I think your box is a wonderful idea. I hope it gave you and your brothers a chance to talk and express yourselves freely as you worked, to remember your mother with laughter and tears, to strengthen the connection between yourselves.
I'm glad you shared. That's a vital factor in healing. :)
