I don’t know if a whole lot of loyal FReepers who post here have noticed that I have been gone a few days.
Last wednesday I received many urgent calls from family all across the lower 48 that were trying to get ahold of me, my self being in Alaska since 1992 I have not seen most of them for many years and over that time communication was not very often, and last week they were unable to get ahold of me to inform me my 80 year old mother had went into a diabetic coma.
The ICU head nurse said she was not going to make it through the night as she went through complete renal breakdown. It is very difficult trying to get seats on instant notice from Anchorage Alaska to any local hub near Modesto CA, at first all I found was 1st class and the price was beyond what I could afford on short notice and I was telling my sister there I could not make it.
But then several hours later the next shift nurse told me they had her stabilized and that she may make it through to the next day. I then called Alaska Airlines hoping for what used to be available in the past called “Family Bereavement Transit” where in a family emergency you can get an immediate seat at a reduced fair. Alaska Airlines said that was discontinued some years ago.
BUT...The booking officer basically just did it anyway and I was on the red eye flight that evening, was given a 40 minute layover in Seattle and then the connecting flight also Alaska was to Sacramento which is only 60 miles or so from Modesto.
And the full round trip with no 3 day advance booking was only $1178.00.
And that was given to me as a gift, yes it was free, I did not ask for it and the people that I have loyally worked for the last 16 years bought the ticket for me as a gift.
I just returned last evening and this is my first post since then. My mother, may she forever rest in peace gave me enough facial movement and sounds just in and out of consciousness heard me, heard her grandson over a loudspeaker phone giving a speech (my son still in Alaska) talking about his latest promotion to Corporal in the Jr. ROTC.
She passed away at 9 am friday.
In as such as to Steven Hawkins, I suppose he can believe what he must but I do not wish to believe what he thinks he wants ME to believe, I would lose whatever comfort and solace I have now if I was led to believe that my mothers spirit has just went nowhere and is just that, nothing.
I would much rather believe she will be part of my inner voice, she will be the foundation of my faith, my future wisdom, my sense of direction and they say often the spirit skips a generation in the merits of wisdom, fortune and legacy and that maybe all she was will not come back around and will now be there inside my son, her grandson.
So Mr. Steven Hawkins, please think again, don’t make us feel miserable just so it completes a mathematical equation you have conceived.
My condolences to you on the death of your Mother. I was able to just make it back in time for my dad’s death many years ago. I will never forget the sadness and happiness of that day. Just a few hours before he died, he said “I always said, the best day of my life will be the day I die, and get to wear a crown in Heaven!” I replied “That’s true - but it will be a real drag for the rest of us.”
And as much as you may have seen the Spirit of God in your mom, that Spirit is very much alive, and I believe that your co-worker’s gift to you is evidence of that. And a wonderful example of another Gift that is free, and that you did not ask for, but was given to you.
And I’m not one to worry too much about Heaven or Hell in the eternity - perhaps I’m not old enough yet. I’m more concerned with the Heaven or Hell that I choose to live in.
Again my condolences, and may your memories of good times and good thoughts never fade.