Today I will be resigning from the job that I love so well. It's breaking my heart but I must do it for health reasons. I will no longer be part of that amazing crew and I know that I will tremendously miss being with them and sharing our adventures together.
It's also another milestone, of which there have been many, and it's almost like a last chapter. I feel that this particular milestone has a certain resonance to it, a finality so to speak. It's almost as though it's one of the very last links between our 'old reality' and our 'new reality'.
My son graduated in June - we are so proud of him! Another difficult milestone - it was both happy and sad. We got through it though - we've learned how to do that and have coping mechanisms for it - we silently cling to one another and share 'the look' with each other and express it without words - our grief may be public but our pain is private, we do not share it outside of our little circle.
It was shocking to realize that now that my son has graduated, we no longer have to stay in Chicago.
It's shocking to realize that I've been in remission for a year.
It's shocking to remember what my life was like 2 years ago and to think about all the changes and milestones since then.
So many changes.
Moving forward (which is not moving on), staying present and keeping my family together, learning how to live this new life, honoring the lessons he taught us - love with all of your heart, be joyful and share that joy, smile often and help those in need - these are all our new reality.
Graduation, possibly moving to a new home, resigning and leaving my friends and the job that I love so much - these are some of our recent milestones.
Moving forward, college, maybe a fresh start in a new home, maybe start a new job or career path - these may become milestones in our new reality. Who knows?
Life is short.
Things change.
Take a deep breath and hold on.
You never know what is going to happen.
