NelsonQ
Lieutenant
- Joined
- Aug 5, 2008
- Messages
- 1,413
Well folks, sometimes you need to just express your thoughts to help you deal with the way you feel so I'm taking the opportunity now.
I've been away from the forums for a few weeks. It was hard reading about SBN before I left. He passed away from a battle with cancer at the age of 55.
While reading it, our family was going thru a similar situation as my mother in law lay in hospital, diagnosed with cancer. She passed away in the early hours of Sat, Dec 6th. She too was 55.
It seems sometimes the good ones are called too early.
So, I thought I'd share a story in her memory. I'm 36 years old. Met my wife the first day in university. We were 18. So for half my life, I've known my MIL.
Her name was Lillian, or Lil as everyone knew her. As I learned in the early years, you could call her anything, just not 'Lilly'. It would unleash a wrath like none seen before to call her 'Lilly'. So being the person I am, I called her 'Ma Lilly' as she was my second 'Ma'. It was a term of endearment that only I was afforded.
She treated my like I was her own son. She always offered encouragement and support and was proud of her family of which she always made sure to make me feel part of. Unlike most men who stereotypically don't get along with their MILs, I did. I struggle to think of a time I had something to disagree with her on and always enjoyed her company. I was fortunate to have had her in my life.
In June of this year, I purchased a boat. Being from the East Coast, the ocean and boats seemed to be a big part of everyone's lives. At that time I felt it was a nice gesture for a woman who meant so much to my wife, my daughter and me. Now it'll be another reminder of all the great times and memories of a wonderful woman gone too soon.
Christmas will be a difficult time (Ma Lilly's birthday was Christmas Eve) but we're lucky to have great friends and family to help us through it. My FIL travelled back to our home with us for a few weeks for the holidays so we'll help comfort each other and share in her memory.
I've been away from the forums for a few weeks. It was hard reading about SBN before I left. He passed away from a battle with cancer at the age of 55.
While reading it, our family was going thru a similar situation as my mother in law lay in hospital, diagnosed with cancer. She passed away in the early hours of Sat, Dec 6th. She too was 55.
It seems sometimes the good ones are called too early.
So, I thought I'd share a story in her memory. I'm 36 years old. Met my wife the first day in university. We were 18. So for half my life, I've known my MIL.
Her name was Lillian, or Lil as everyone knew her. As I learned in the early years, you could call her anything, just not 'Lilly'. It would unleash a wrath like none seen before to call her 'Lilly'. So being the person I am, I called her 'Ma Lilly' as she was my second 'Ma'. It was a term of endearment that only I was afforded.
She treated my like I was her own son. She always offered encouragement and support and was proud of her family of which she always made sure to make me feel part of. Unlike most men who stereotypically don't get along with their MILs, I did. I struggle to think of a time I had something to disagree with her on and always enjoyed her company. I was fortunate to have had her in my life.
In June of this year, I purchased a boat. Being from the East Coast, the ocean and boats seemed to be a big part of everyone's lives. At that time I felt it was a nice gesture for a woman who meant so much to my wife, my daughter and me. Now it'll be another reminder of all the great times and memories of a wonderful woman gone too soon.
Christmas will be a difficult time (Ma Lilly's birthday was Christmas Eve) but we're lucky to have great friends and family to help us through it. My FIL travelled back to our home with us for a few weeks for the holidays so we'll help comfort each other and share in her memory.