Well I have returned to my travel blog. I am setting out on Thursday for my next round of adventures: 4 months in Latin America and Asia.
Unfortunately, I am writing this blog post with the heaviest heart I've ever had. My mother, my best friend, suddenly and unexpectedly passed away in her sleep two nights ago. There is no explanation. More than anything, my mom wanted to see me fulfill my dreams of traveling the world. She developed her own transcribing business to help me fund my trip. Every day she would call me telling me how hard she was working for me. She would always joke about how she was coming on my trip with me. "I'm so excited for our trip, Lissy!" "We're going to be roommates on the ship!" "I can't wait til we go zip-lining in Costa Rica and go to the Great Wall in China!" When she wasn't joking about coming on my trip with me, she talked about how her dream was to sail on the MV Explorer (Semester at Sea's ship). Once she was finished helping me with my voyages, she had her heart set on being a life-long learner. To honor my mother and make her dreams come true I will be bringing some of her ashes with me on my trip. I intend to get up at sunrise one morning while on the ship and scatter some into the ocean. I will be leaving pieces of her everywhere I go throughout my 4 months. I know nothing would be more meaningful to her, and nothing could be more meaningful to me.
I am struggling with the fact that I am setting out for a 4 month journey the day after my mother's funeral, but I'm doing this for her. The last thing she would want would be for me not to go. I have to do this in her memory.
I have decided that this summer my blog posts are going to be written as letters to my mom telling her everything I'm doing. I feel this would be the most meaningful and even cathartic way for me to write about my experiences.
I will be posting information about the funeral for those of you who are interested. It will be on Wednesday, but an official time has not been declared yet. My dad and I decided that in lieu of flowers, we are asking people to make a donation to my fundraising efforts for my trip. There is nothing my mom wanted more than to see this dream of mine come true. I am so humbled by the response. In just a day, we have raised over $2,000. I am so unbelievably grateful, especially knowing that each donation was made out of love for my mom. If you are interested in contributing, the website can be found here.
Rest in peace, Mama. My heart is broken, but I'm being strong. I know you wouldn't want to see me upset. I love you more than all the stars in the sky. Just as you always said...I can't wait for our trip this summer.
Unfortunately, I am writing this blog post with the heaviest heart I've ever had. My mother, my best friend, suddenly and unexpectedly passed away in her sleep two nights ago. There is no explanation. More than anything, my mom wanted to see me fulfill my dreams of traveling the world. She developed her own transcribing business to help me fund my trip. Every day she would call me telling me how hard she was working for me. She would always joke about how she was coming on my trip with me. "I'm so excited for our trip, Lissy!" "We're going to be roommates on the ship!" "I can't wait til we go zip-lining in Costa Rica and go to the Great Wall in China!" When she wasn't joking about coming on my trip with me, she talked about how her dream was to sail on the MV Explorer (Semester at Sea's ship). Once she was finished helping me with my voyages, she had her heart set on being a life-long learner. To honor my mother and make her dreams come true I will be bringing some of her ashes with me on my trip. I intend to get up at sunrise one morning while on the ship and scatter some into the ocean. I will be leaving pieces of her everywhere I go throughout my 4 months. I know nothing would be more meaningful to her, and nothing could be more meaningful to me.
I am struggling with the fact that I am setting out for a 4 month journey the day after my mother's funeral, but I'm doing this for her. The last thing she would want would be for me not to go. I have to do this in her memory.
I have decided that this summer my blog posts are going to be written as letters to my mom telling her everything I'm doing. I feel this would be the most meaningful and even cathartic way for me to write about my experiences.
I will be posting information about the funeral for those of you who are interested. It will be on Wednesday, but an official time has not been declared yet. My dad and I decided that in lieu of flowers, we are asking people to make a donation to my fundraising efforts for my trip. There is nothing my mom wanted more than to see this dream of mine come true. I am so humbled by the response. In just a day, we have raised over $2,000. I am so unbelievably grateful, especially knowing that each donation was made out of love for my mom. If you are interested in contributing, the website can be found here.
31 years ago I left my family in California the day after my mom's funeral. She had written a letter, in the event of her death, not to let her passing interfere with my finishing my master's degree. So I flew back to Dayton, defended my thesis that same day; a couple of weeks later graduated and a week after that married Dennis and wound up in Cincinnati. I'm hoping my mom is proud of me and I know very well your mom is proud of you and glad to be traveling with you. Keep the faith. God's love and mine,
ReplyDeleteLinda Wihl
That's heartbreaking stuff and there is no wrong way to grieve such a profound loss.
ReplyDelete