Real World Mom

People come into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime.
When you figure out which it is, you know exactly what to do.

Marie (not her real name) didn’t come into the nursing home while I was working Tuesday night.  This was very unusual.  She always comes twice a day, in the morning and then in the evening.  I first wrote about Marie here.  I was concerned about her, and disappointed that I didn’t get to see her.  Her fiancee’s card was still in the file.

It’s not quite a month since I met Marie, but, she has made an impact on me that is likely to stay with me for a very long time.

I saw her four nights a week.  She would always stop to talk to me before she went back to visit Joe (not his real name), and then again after.  Marie shared quite a bit with me, and I was happy to be there for her, offering my support and a listening ear.

One night last week, when Marie was leaving, she was pretty upset.  Joe’s condition had gotten worse since she’d been there that morning.  I felt this woman’s pain.  I went out into the lobby and asked her if I could give her a hug, which she accepted.  Marie thanked me, with sincerity and gratefulness, but I think I needed that hug as much as she did.

This past Monday, when she was leaving, she told me she would never forget me.  I didn’t hug her, and how I wish I had.

I had Wednesday off, so, when I got into work yesterday, I checked for Joe’s card.  He passed away at 4 a.m. on Tuesday morning.  That’s why I didn’t see Marie Tuesday night.  Or last night.  And I’ll never see her again.  That sweet, strong, kind, loving woman is gone from my life, and I will miss her dearly.  But I am grateful for the chance to have known her, even for a very brief time.

I hope that Marie is on the path to healing, surrounded by people who love her.  I hope she never has to go through anything like this again.  I hope that she finds peace and happiness very soon.  And, I hope she somehow knows that I will never forget her.