It all is surreal.  I have questioned myself over and over the passed few days if this is really happening...  Has mom truly passed away?  Is it possible that this is true?  Will I really not be able to hold her, and kiss her, and tell her I love her again?  Today, I should have been coming home from the hospital, discharged after having had surgery.  Instead, today I return from the cemetary having said my last good bye to my mom, a most special, gentle, and loving mom.

After being imprisoned, both mentally and physically, for 3.5 years, Mom has left this world to join my Dad, in Heaven.

Dementia robbed her of her thoughts, her memories, her ability to respond, her ability to communicate....  Paralysis robbed her of her ability to move, or walk, or dance....  But through it all the she maintained her feisty spirit; her sense of humor; her ability to show love; her wit.....

Mom was 3 months shy of her 95th Birthday. 

I am the youngest of her three daughters.  We lived together my whole life.  She and dad owned a three-family house and when I married, I moved into an upstairs apartment....and this is where I stayed my whole adult life.  This is where I raised my sons.  We never separated.  So, now at almost 60 years old, I am dealing with not only losing my mom, but also having to learn to live my daily life without her being a part of it....it doesn't seem possible.  It's like saying, I will now begin living each day without air, or light, or water...it seems impossible.