My Mom was a generous, gentle, kind hearted person. She'd help out any way she could. I hate to tell you that when I was a teenager I was pretty rude to her. You know, everyone around the age of 15 or so knows everything there is to know about everything. My Mom always let things slide to a reasonable level before she'd let me know what a jerk I was acting. I think she understood that I was just being a teenager.
One day I realized just how lucky I was to have such a great mother and friend and I started to let her know that I felt that way. That was the first time I had ever said 'I love you' to Mom (we weren't a really huggy-kissy family, we loved each other, we knew it and that was fine). I started taking Mom out for coffee and shopping, talking with her more and just hanging out. Why the big change? I don't know, it just felt like it was time.
Shortly after, she was diagnosed with cancer. Hmmm. Lucky for us she beat it that time but five years later she developed cancer and it quickly spread and took her away from us. My Dad and I were heart broken. She'd been here for my wedding which made her very happy but when I was pregnant for the first time, I felt so sad that she wouldn't see her first grandchild and I thought of her so often.
When my son was born, we forgot to take a camera to the hospital for his first pictures, we didn't even think about it until the lady in the next bed's hubby started taking photos. I guess she overheard us and very kindly lent us her instant polaroid to take some pictures. The first one was a very tired me holding a wrinkly little bundle, sort of down on my lap. I took one of my hubby holding baby and then another of me with baby. We gave the camera back and looked at the now fully developed pictures.
The first one of me with our little one was so amazing! My image was clear as a bell but my baby had a big orb around his whole body. The other pictures taken with the camera were just fine. My Mom saw her first grandson after all!
When my Dad was near the end and in the hospital (we both knew he wouldn't be going home) he was pretty weak and only semi-conscious most of the time. When he was awake and aware, he was totally lucid. The Dad I knew and loved. On his birthday he told me that he had seen my Mom at his window the night before and he was ready to go with her. I didn't want to hear it but I believed him and knew it really was almost his time.
The next day was my birthday and he wished me happy birthday and we chatted for a time. He finally got tired and dozed off. He never woke up again. Since then I haven't had any experiences involving either of my parents. I think they're too busy with each other now that they are back together.
Vicki π