Remembering.....

This is the time of year that I remember all the losses that our family suffered a few years ago. It all started in October of 2004. I lost my heart dog, Daisy Mae. She'd been suffering horrible nose bleeds from a nasty fungal infection that could not be cured without terribly invasive treatment that I refused to put her through at her age. Treatment that didn't even have a very promising success rate. Daisy was my reason for getting up in the morning. My heart, my soul...

My darling Daisy Mae

Then a short five months later, on Easter, March 27, 2005, my grandmother, Helene, passed away at the age of 97. She was one of the strongest women I know and she left a huge gap in all of our lives.

Gram with me when I was two

Two months later to the day, my father passed away on May 27th. He was diagnosed with esophogeal cancer only a month before that. We lost him quickly and it sent our family reeling. He was an ex Marine and fondly talked of his days in the service. He had a horrible childhood, losing his mother at a very young age and living with an abusive father, but he never spoke of that life. It's only now that I'm hearing stories about that part of his life from my mother's brother, David, who was a good friend of my father's when they were young.

My dad when he was in his early 20's

On July 22nd, my youngest cousin, Dan, died quite unexpectedly. He'd been HIV positive for many years but it was his terrible rheumatoid arthritis and the medication used to treat it that ultimately took him from us. The medication destroyed his t cells to the point where the doctor's didn't know how he could even stand. He went to take a nap that afternoon and never woke up. I so miss his laughter...

Dan, just 40 years old when he died

October 27th of that same year, I then lost my darling little Olivia Rose. She was an adorable rescue dog from Puerto Rico. I'd only had her in my life for nine months when I lost her to what we are certain was a brain tumor. She was only 14 months old.

Livia, just a month before she died

So many losses in such a short period. It stays with you for a long, long time. My heart is slowly recovering, but it will never heal completely. My comfort comes from knowing deep in my heart that I will see them all again...