Rest In Peace, dear Mary!

Mary Lee is my ex’s mother, though she was always like a mother to me, too. I have known her for about thirty years and she had always been incredibly kind, generous, loving and supportive. It didn’t matter that her son and I were no longer together. She even loved my husband. My daughter adopted her as a grandmother and that brought her such joy. Mary lived very close to where my daughter attends college. She would take my daughter shopping and to lunch from time to time. And she’d come and spend Thanksgiving with us. Everything was so wonderful.

Until it wasn’t.

She just stepped out one warm night, a week ago today, and was struck and killed by a car. She was 79 years old but was in pretty good health and had years ahead of her, I’m sure. I can’t help but feel angry. The accident is under investigation and I pray that’s all it was—a truly unfortunate accident. I don’t think I can bear to find out that the driver was distracted or under the influence of alcohol or drugs. 

I also feel very guilty. I texted her on Easter and told her that I would call her during the week. I didn’t call and now I’ll never have the chance to hear her voice again. We were just texting, briefly, about an hour before it happened. It just doesn’t seem real. How I wish this was just a bad dream I could wake from.

It does comfort me to know that she gets to see her dog, Sadie, again, and her long-time love, “Peeps.” I hope they greeted her immediately and that she is at peace. She deserves it. She was a remarkable woman. I will never, ever forget her or stop loving her. 

Friends, don’t put off that phone call, that visit, that text or email. Don’t let another moment pass by without letting the people you love know that you are thinking about them and how much they mean to you. Don’t take anyone or anything for granted. Life is short and sometimes cruel. Make the most of every day!

❤️