ADN

#1

A lot of you probably don†™‚¢‚¢¢¢¬…¡‚¬‚¢¢¢¬…¾

‚¢t know, but a year ago this week my mother passed away after dealing with a severe case of emphysema. She was only 52 years old when she left and was the closest friend I have ever had or ever will have in my life†™‚¢‚¢¢¢¬…¡‚¬¢‚¬Å¡‚¦..

There were always two things my mother asked me to do for her if she ever got to a point, physically, where she wasn†™‚¢‚¢¢¢¬…¡‚¬‚¢¢¢¬…¾

‚¢t in †™‚¢‚¢¢¢¬…¡‚¬¢‚¬¦¢¢¬…œcon

trol†™‚¢‚¢¢¢¬…¡‚¬? of her destiny. The first one was for me to not allow her to remain on any for of life support. The second was for her to return †™‚¢‚¢¢¢¬…¡‚¬¢‚¬¦¢¢¬…œhom

e†™‚¢‚¢¢¢¬…¡‚¬? after she died.

Her first request put me in the worst position I have encountered in my life, but because of the amount of respect and love I had for her†™‚¢‚¢¢¢¬…¡‚¬¢‚¬Å¡‚¦†

™‚¢‚¢¢¢¬…¡‚¬¢‚¬Å¡‚¦I followed through with what she wanted. From the exact second she passed away everything about me, as a person, changed. Some good†™‚¢‚¢¢¢¬…¡‚¬¢‚¬Å¡‚¦.some bad, but I changed.

Her second request to return †™‚¢‚¢¢¢¬…¡‚¬¢‚¬¦¢¢¬…œhom

e†™‚¢‚¢¢¢¬…¡‚¬? was pretty difficult for me to deal with also, not because I didn†™‚¢‚¢¢¢¬…¡‚¬‚¢¢¢¬…¾

‚¢t want to do it but more so that I didn†™‚¢‚¢¢¢¬…¡‚¬‚¢¢¢¬…¾

‚¢t want to admit and accept that she was in fact gone.

Well, on August 7th (this past Monday) she went home:

To her, home was an area just outside of Jemez, New Mexico and was a place that she truly felt a connection to. My mother was about as spiritual as you could get. Not religious†™‚¢‚¢¢¢¬…¡‚¬¢‚¬Å¡‚¦s

piritual. She followed a native American way of life and was more in touch with nature and her surroundings than anyone I have ever known in my life.

http://volcano.und.edu/vwdocs/volc_imag ... jemez.html

Here is a photograph of where my mother, Jerri, lives now:

Welcome "home" Mom. I love you and miss you.

John

#2

It was hard to watch you go through this last year M8, I remember...Life is so fragile man...And it seems as if the good ones are never here long enough...But I am truly happy that both you and your mother have found peace...Can't say enough man, how much it means that you are a part of this community...

Welcome Home Jerri, welcome home...

#3

I remember you going through this last year also and I ached for you. I'm so glad to see the closure come and for you to take your mom home. It truely is a beautiful place where she lives. Keep strong, John, and remember that we are all here for you

Bot · #4

This occurred before my time, but it's still sad to hear it now. It really does look beautiful, and I'm sure she's happy to be home.

#5

Damn man, it hurts doesn't it? But at the same time, you can feel a peace within yourself because you and your mom had such a great relationship and you were able to follow thru on her last requests. I'm proud of you for being able to do that and for being able to share with us a little of your journey this past year. It's been rocky sometimes, but you've always had our support and always will.

Just remember, John, being strong is when you know it's OK to cry. Your time of grieving will soon find closure. You'll always miss her, but you'll find the strength to move on in a way that will make her proud of you.

#6

I also remember this, when Charles was giving advise for you to let your mother's spirit go, (or something like that).

I just cannot fathom a life without my parents (even though sometimes I've had dark thoughts of wanting to be without them.....), so I definitely feel your sadness, even though I am yet to properly experience it.

I thank you John for having the strength and the love for sharing your mother's home (which is sincerely quite beautiful by the way) with us. Thank you.

-Pete.

#7

Honestly, all I can say to you guys is thank you, and oddly, that doesn't seem like enough.

You guys, although I haven't met you, are extremely special to me......a really fantastic group of friends.

Thanks again!

#8

Rim letting go of someone you truly love is the hardest thing anyone can ever do but they are always with you in your heart all the time. Im glad to hear that your mom is finally at home and in peace and so are you.

Every experience in life changes us, I think you have changed for the better.