Monday, January 11, 2010

grief and gratitude


Mom...headed off to college in 1948


Mom and Dad in 1949

I'm familiar with the various stages of grief you supposedly go through......but that seems like such a clinical way to describe the emotional upheaval that takes place when someone you love dies. It's a surreal experience.... Very foggy.

I'm sitting here in the kitchen of the house that my mom and dad built... on Platte Lake in a gorgeous area of Northern Michigan... I'm trying to compose some sort of memorial to my mom, a handout of sorts to be available at her "celebration of life" party on the 17th... a challenging task.

I keep crying because of the loss I feel.... then laugh and smile at the memories as I sort through photos and memorabilia. What a roller coaster of emotion...

But the prevailing feeling I'm having is gratitude. A profound sense of gratitude, for having the parents that I had.

I'm a lucky lucky girl.

4 comments:

Unknown said...

And they were very, very lucky to have a daughter like you!!

Kate at Serendipity said...

Oh, Lauren, now I'm crying too. I love these photos. I love the sentiments too. Go ahead and cry. And laugh. But most of all--remember.

Hugs

Debra said...

Lauren, So sorry to hear about your mom passing....

I too wish you an art and fun filled 2010!

Lauren Everett Finn said...

Aww thanks Patty...

Kate... thanks so much. My sister and I found one of my dad's journals today... he wrote some of the funniest things about our sons... Things I didn't know that they said and did... Love it. :)

Thanks Debra... happy new year to you too!

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