Thursday, November 26, 2020
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I had the distinct honor of being one of Gladys' caregivers in the last year of her life, a total of 9 months and her last 9 days. As she looked at me for the very last time, she closed her eyes and passed away on 11/ 21/ 2020 at 11:43 pm in my arms. Christine, Gladys' best friend of 42 years and also her caregiver, was there too when she passed quietly into the night. The both of us loved her deeply and miss her already.
I miss her feistiness, her fierce sense of independence, her great sense of humor, her love for story telling and old movies and those good ol' sailor jokes, which would burst out of her like a song from out of nowhere, making us all laugh. I remember her dancing around the living room like a child in those beginning days before her condition got much worse. She was spontaneous and always spoke her mind, saying it like it was. She and Christine could sit there for hours just watching old movies and Gladys would be able to tell you every actor's name, what movies they were in, as well as all their back stories. She loved the old movies.
As I kissed her goodbye and told her how much I loved her, I told her that now that she's on the other side, she can be Chris' guardian angel and watch over HER now, while I'd help Chris on this side and together, we'd help Chris get thru this difficult time. I remember on two separate occasions,a few days before Gladys passed on, two different hospice nurses that would stop by and check up on her said to Gladys that she was so lucky to have two special angels watching out over her. She just smiled and said that she knew. I knew how much Gladys was so worried about leaving Christine alone once she passed over. A few days later, I was sitting in my car getting ready to do some food shopping and just as I was about to get out of my car, the song, "You are my Special Angel" started playing on the radio. I hadn't been thinking of Gladys at that moment, but all of a sudden I knew she was there with me in the car and answering my conversation from the other night. I started to cry, knowing that she was still with us, as feisty as ever. From now on whenever I hear that song, "You Are My Special Angel", I will think of her with love and a smile.
She also made her presence known in Christine's apartment, when Chris came home, right after Gladys' passing, to find that the drooping plant she thought was surely dead and needed to be thrown out, was in full bloom and still very much alive. She was so surprised to see the plant so healthy looking! I told her that it was just Gladys' way of telling her that she too isn't really dead. She is very much alive and back to her usual healthy self on the other side and still with her, always. . . . just in a totally different way now.
So, for me, there's no need to mourn her passing as there is so much to celebrate about her life. . . . so much to remember, with laughter and love. Rest in peace my sweet girl and keep on sending those messages!
Love you always -
Donna and Christine
