Mom,

We weren't ready. We never could have been. We were never going to be. We are so grateful for every moment and every memory, but they were never going to be enough. We were always going to feel shorted. It's the challenge of loving someone with a chronic illness. You know the end will come, but you have to keep distance from that end in order to keep on living with and loving them to the fullest each day.

And you were- are- so very loved. Our friend, our confidante, our fiercest advocate, our karaoke partner, and the inspiration for generations of righteous indignation past, present and future.

We will miss you so very much. We will think of you every day, and it will hurt, hopefully a little less with time. But we will also think of you with joy- when we see you in your grandchildren's expressions, when we hear you in their laughs, when we tell punny jokes you would have loved, when we taste the foods you enjoyed, when we fight for something we believe in, when we remember your advice, when we feel your love inside us and between us.

We will never feel like we had enough time with you, but we will carry the many lifetimes of love you have given us, and we will share that love with each other and with the world that lost you too soon. 

Love Always,

Susie

A Thank You to Momma Bear

Thank you for teaching us to be strong and confident.

Thank you for the late night check ins.

Thank you for your kindness and patience.

Thank you for teaching us to dance like no one's watching and sing like no one's listening.

Thank you for always having the answer, even if it wasn't the "right"one.

Thank you for learning how to use Duo so we could see you even when we couldn't come see you.

Thank you for the freedom to make mistakes and all the love and forgiveness when we did.

Thank you for reading with us, for teaching and learning with us.

Thank you for thinking of us and sharing the books, shows, articles, and movies you knew we would love.

Thank you for always listening and never judging.

Thank you for knowing we were never too old for a good snuggle.

Thank you for living your belief that children matter and should be heard. 

Thank you for sharing your passion with us, and with the world.

Thank you for being you and for loving us all so good. 

Love,

Susie