This past week marked one year since my Mother suddenly and unexpectedly passed away.
It is a weird anniversary to mark as it brings up memories and emotions that usually remain bottled up, untouched by daily life. I think my sister put it best:
"One of the strangest things about loss, especially sudden loss, is that while your world is crashing down around you, the rest of the world keeps on moving. Today somehow marks 1 year without Mom. It doesn’t seem possible that it’s been an entire year without one of the most important people in my life. I try to not dwell on regrets, but not hugging her when I had the opportunity, not knowing that just one hour later she’d be cruelly and tragically taken from us, is the hardest for me to reconcile. I still struggle with the unfairness and trauma of it all, but I try to remember that I’m still here and there are people that need me. Mom is at peace, and one day I will get to give her that hug I so desperately wish for."
When she passed, I put together a little video that played at the opening of her Celebration of Life. For what it's worth, here's the video: