My girlfriend's mother died yesterday of pancreatic cancer. She'd been struggling with it for over a year and a half, which is unheard of for this disease. She passed away the morning after Thanksgiving. The only reason I mention it here is because Gordon Lightfoot played a small part. My girlfriend had been with her almost constantly, lying in bed with her and holding her. Her mother was so weak that she could barely move or even eat and was in unbelievable pain. Aileen, (my girlfriend)had left for just a few minutes to take a quick shower when the hospice nurse came to check. Aileen had 'The Last Time I Saw Her' stuck in her head all day and had been singing it to her mother. As she was getting out of the shower, she softly sang the line, 'The last time I let go of her, she walked away into the night, I lost her in the misty streets'--suddenly, her father was pounding on the door, crying that her mother was gone.
My mother battled with breast cancer a few years ago and she is still with us and healthy, thank God. If the events of this seem a little confusing, it is because I am housesitting for Aileen and taking care of her pets while she is several hundred miles away with her family. I have gotten all of this over the phone. Today will be the first chance I've had to see my family because of certain scheduling conflicts and I am going to hold my Mom for as long as I can and tell her I love her. I am so grateful to have her here and healthy.
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