My dear friend Betsy text me today that her mother, Phyliss had passed away this afternoon. We expected it, but maybe in a day or two. Phyliss was 100 years old. She had lived a good life. She was one of the most talented people I had ever met. She was humble and unassuming. She was demure. She was an excellent seamstress. I had known her since college days, as Betsy and I have been very close all those years. She maintained good cognitive skills up until near the end.
When someone lives that long, there is always the question of how much longer will they be able to endure. Sometimes it feels like they will live forever. Betsy has been her primary caretaker for years now. This has been a journey that we have talked through and supported each other through. Her Mom always made me feel special and loved. I had such admiration for all of the things that she could do. She made such beautiful garments. She was an exceptional quilter. She was such a good Mom and wife. Betsy had a sister who died a few years ago, Kathy had ovarian cancer and for a while she lived with Betsy and her husband Ron. There were so many years where all of Betsy's life focused on taking care of others. Taking care of her sister, her husband and her Mom. Now she is free. Now she can focus on herself and get through her grief. I wish I could be closer to her. this journey has really deepened our faith in God. We both have pushed ourselves to study spiritual things and to ask the tough questions about what we believe and how we can manifest these beliefs in how we live our lives.
I know it sounds crazy, but Betsy's Mom was the last living MOther of my close girlfriends. It makes me so much more aware that we all are closer to dying. It's ok. There are things worse than dying.
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