Endings & New Beginnings

Yesterday at 10:15AM my aunt Francine past away. She had died 10 minutes before I got to the hospital. I beat myself up at first for making stops but you know, I was there everyday almost all day with her. Nightly I would tell her I love her and let her know it was OK to move on. I saw there was no reason to beat myself up over something I had no control over. It was her destiny to move on when she did.

My aunt is at peace now. She was a neat lady. Before her Parkinson's started she would have these beautiful gardens. She loved animals and loved her old T.V. shows. I remember as a child having to watch The Sound of Music and The Towering Inferno so many times because those were two movies she'd watch over and over again.

It's sad, yes, but my mother and I took care of all the arrangements yesterday and we are going to do a family memorial once we receive her ashes in a couple of weeks.

Today is a new day and a day I can live to the fullest. It's the start of a new month and a new year for me as well. I'm grateful that I am the person I am today and that I was able to be there and accountable for my family when they needed me most. I used to be the person you wouldn't call or rely on for anything.

I've included a picture of Francine from my wedding before her Parkinson's finally took over. As I close, my sappy moment for you is to remember to cherish the ones you love, always.

To Coexist

OK, so I have this Coexist sticker on my car. This sticker was to help me not be so angry when I drive in So. Cal traffic. However; it is so easy to forget that this sticker is even on my car.

I know to pause, relax, and even turn my radio up extremely loud while driving in traffic but sometimes I really don't understand how others got their license. I wonder if everyone in So. Cal feels the same way about everyone else.

It was recently said that So. Californians spend more and more in their cars each year. I so want to live where it doesn't take 45 min. to sometimes go 3 miles. That is just super crazy.

I will practice the rest of the week to understand that others most likely feel the same way I do and that it's all really not worth getting too worked up over.