I still remember that last night - and while it pains me to no end, it taught me a lot

[The Straight Story]

She was laying there in her hospital bed, not in her right mind. Dad was in the hallway talking to me about it all, telling me mom would not make it much longer, and I was in denial.

And then she was yelling for dad, and we both rushed back to her room. She was worried about the baby (my daughter) being trapped in the pillow case. Dad gave her a pretend knife to cut the baby out of the pillow. She did so and all was alright with the world.

And then ma saw me, and snapped out of whatever it was she was in. She told dad to send me home, that I could not handle this. To the end mom was worried about me, the baby of the family. She sent me home.

It was the last time I saw her alive. Two nights later she passed away, a few minutes before I was able to get to the hospital.

I missed her this Easter. I miss her laughter, her decorations, her weird ways that so many never understood.

But I have learned from it all.

Her life was grounded in being simple and kind to others. She never went on the internet and ripped people's asses over things. She never told people they were crazy for supporting a presidential candidate that she did not support. She DID help many less fortunate than she was, even though we grew up lower middle class and for much of her life she was poor.

She was a simple, albeit imperfect, woman. She did a lot of good for me and others over her 70 years of life. She was there for me and my siblings. She was mom.

And as I sit here I cannot help but cry for the many we have lost, so many young folks who left behind kids - all for a war that should never have been. And I wonder the effect it will have on those left behind.

Spouses, kids, family - all devastated over a war that should never have been. A war based on lies that even I at one time believed in. I had no real insight into it all, yet we had leaders that did. And they made a terrible decision.

Nights like tonight I find myself at a loss, crying over all the loses I have had over the years (friends and family) - and then I sit here thinking about all those out there who have lost so much over a war that should never have been and should not be now. And I weep too for the people of Iraq and their families and friends they have lost.

Most of us 'little folk' want a simple life with those we love. And yet, there are some in power who want to make it so much more complex. And they end up hurting so many people.

I was lucky. I had many more years with my mom than some have had with their parents. And I can say even then it was painful to lose her. I cannot imagine what others have been through.

war is hell, so why do we go into it with such ease?

I just want our people home. Their kids and spouses want them home. I just want our people to live their simple lives and serve in the military to defend us, not to die for us in a war over nothing.

maybe I am just crazy to want our troops to come home and be safe. either that or our elected officials are crazy to want to keep them there for 'our' safety.

I don't want to have my tax dollars used to kill people a world away. I want them spent on making the lives of myself and others better.

I want a better world. I want for other people to be able to spend time together with the ones they love without worrying about all the shit we have had to worry about for so many years.

I want the people to stand against these assholes in power, and to share this planet with each other and respect each other.

I want love and freedom, not war and death.

And the one thing I have learned from mom and others is - I am not alone.

[shireen]

1. .

:hug:

[JeffR]

2. No, you're not alone.

And we have a struggle ahead, but we're going to win it.

[The Straight Story]

7. We better win it my friend

Cause if we don't, things are gonna get real bad real soon.

I am glad mom is not here to see this all :)

[JeffR]

8. Until my mom died 11 months ago, I loved hearing her take

on the Bush criminals. We owe it to the previous generation, and the next and the next, to put a stop to all this.

[Hardrada]

3. A touching thread. I had a grandmother I loved who was

her own unique individual and I saw past her inflexibility on certain issues and her sometimes hot temper to see that she was a person who wanted peace and love in the world and who was generous to many people who had fallen low in the world's esteem.

[roguevalley]

4. my parents were the heroes and center of my life. My

Papa talked to people that weren't there and he fretted about the tiny puppies on the window sill not getting cared for. I had to pantomime that they were so he would feel better. My mom went really fast but I know she heard every word I whispered to her. Her last words were my name.

I feel for you, honey. Your mom sounds like a hero. The years they give us will never be enough but we can try and honor their lives by living as kindly as we can. My mother and father were so kind, they have nothing in my mind to worry about in the next world.

I hug you, honey. I wish you peace and love and remind you to watch for the signs they make for us to tell us that they are by our sides all the days of our lives.

Peace to you tonight, honey, and bravo to your sweet mom,

RV

[Angela Shelley]

5. ...

[Mnemosyne]

6. Never alone, TSS.

:hug::grouphug: