Thursday, January 6, 2011

Illness, Injury and a Loss...

This morning, I was waiting to board the flight to Orlando and I got a text from my sister.  It said, "Can u call my cell?" Generally, a text like that means something is up.  A non-emergency would have generated a "call me when u can" type of text.  Honestly, I thought one of the children had done something, or one of my siblings was ill, or something.  So I called, and my sister told me that our Grandmother passed away early this morning.

Now, my Grandmother was suffering from Alzheimer's disease, and was living in a nursing home.  So, we knew that this was going to happen. We just didn't know when, nor did we expect it at this point.  I guess some part of me simply thought she'd go on forever, although I have ample evidence all around me that that is not the case.  People don't stay with us forever.

I've been antsy and unable to rest well for several days, and today I'm just sad and exhausted.  But we are in Orlando - my Grandmother moved to Florida some years ago with her husband, and my father and uncle followed them.  So, Florida is kind of like home for us, if home is where at least one parent lives.

I've been through illness, and injury, and now a loss while training for this marathon.  And while I had planned to dress up and be silly and have fun on this race, I'm not sure I have the heart to do that now.  I'm not entirely sure I have the heart to do the race itself, but my practical Grandmother would probably disapprove of the wasted entry fee if I did not at least make an effort. So, we'll see.

Right now I'm waiting for some phone calls and trying to sort things out.  I'll be offline for a few days - will return with an update early next week.  Hug your friends and family members, my friends, because we truly do not know how much time we have remaining.

28 comments:

  1. I am so sorry to hear about your loss! Sending virtual hugs to you xo

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  2. I am so sorry to hear about your Grandmother! Big hugs to you and many prayers for you/your family during this tough time.

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  3. Big hugs. I'm so sorry for your loss.

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  4. Oh Terri I'm so sorry. Death seems to cluster around the holidays it seems. Don't make any rash decisions about your race just yet, I'll bet grandma would want you to run. Hugs!

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  5. I'm so sorry for your loss. :( *hugs*!!

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  6. So sorry Terri! Sending you a big hug.

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  7. I'm so sorry for your loss! You and your family are in my prayers.

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  8. Ever so sorry. I hope you find the strength to accomplish what you feel you can.

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  9. I'm so sorry for your loss - sending you hugs from NC.

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  10. I am so sorry for your loss. My thoughts & prayers are with you & your family.

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  11. i'm so sorry Terri. your family is in my prayers. we're getting into town tomorrow night, please call me if you need to talk or want to go out with us to get your mind off it.

    but if you want to just stay in and be alone with your grief, I won't call/bug you.

    love you girl. let me know what i can do. besides pray. already doing that for you.

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  12. So sorry about your loss. Maybe you can write your grandmother's name on your bib or racing gear so that you can take her along with you?

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  13. Really sorry to hear about your grandmother. Your heart will tell you what to do about the reace, but I like Jen's idea.

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  14. So sorry to hear about your grandmother Terri. Hugs to you and keeping you in my prayers.

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  15. So sorry for your loss - you owe it to yourself and your family to run though.... do it in her memory and every mile remembers something special about the past.

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  16. I'm very sorry about your loss. Big hugs**

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  17. I'm very sorry to hear about your grandmother. Thinking of you.

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  18. Sorry for your loss. I say run it for your Grandma. She would want you to do it.

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  19. My deepest condolences to you and your family - may you find comfort in each others company and joy in knowing that your grandmother is no longer in pain.

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  20. {{{hugs}} I am so sorry for your loss!! maybe the race will free your mind a bit & help you relieve some stress??

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  21. So sorry for your loss. :-(

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  22. so sorry for your loss. It's never easy no matter the circumstance. I hope you can still run the race-like you said-she would hate for you to waste the fee-so run it in her honor.

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  23. I'm so sorry about your grandma.

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  24. Hi Terri. I'm sorry to hear about your loss.

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  25. You are all awesome - thank you so much for the encouragement and support!

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  26. So sorry to hear of your loss :( I lost my Grandma 3 years ago at the age of 93, on my birthday. While you know it's imminent, you're really never prepared for that kind of news.

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