Ghandi, 2011

Tru Stories posted a quote on her blog a couple of weeks ago.  I love quotes.  I printed it and hung it in my cubicle at work.  To inspire.  Remind me that there is more.  Please, say there is more.  Since this quote is above my desk, I look at it several times a day.  Let me remind you of the quote:

"At the end of your life, all the things you thought

were periods they turn out to be commas."

 Matthew McConaughey

Think about times in your life you thought that was true.  This time of year reminds me of my last Easter with my in-laws at their home.  It was a very special day.  My mother-in-law had spent six months fighting a cancer that we all knew she could not beat.  We were celebrating that she was regaining her strength from the long battle.  We thought she had won a short victory.  We were thrilled she made it home.  We knew we were blessed for any extra time we could have with her.  Easter Sunday was the first day she was strong enough to enter her Church.  It was a great day.  She wore a new hat.  Everyone was thrilled to see her back, in her spot.  We shed some tears during that service and returned home for a family dinner.  We did not know it at the time but that was our last family dinner with her.  She died about six weeks later.  Without the love of his life, my father in law only made it seven months.

We all felt like we were beat up.  Jumped from behind.  In fourteen months everything we knew to be normal changed.  We were all trying to make sense of it.  In a short time what my husband had always known was gone.  Both his parents and the house he grew up in  The end of an era.  Period........

Tru Stories needed a change.  It was agreed that it worked for everyone for her to stay in her grandparent's house while the siblings figured out what to do with the home.  One more PERIOD. for me.  The end of my daughter living three short blocks away.  I felt like I had lost another chunk from my life. 

 Hubby and I sat down and talked.  Our decision was, too much too soon.  We bought the house.  We did not know how long we would keep it.  But we knew until there was not so much hurt, we would hold onto it.  Rent it to Tru Stories.  Comma.  Tru Stories & Coach made it their home.  Tru Stories had a big COMMA (,).  I was stuck 60 miles away.  Happy for her, sad for me.....

I teased Hubby for years that eventually, I would get back to our hometown.  I would say he could pick where we lived the first 30 years of our marriage.  I got the second 30 years.  I never seriously thought it would happen.  Then Tru Stories and Coach made it impossible for me to continue to be so far away.  They bought the house. Their family started growing.  I knew there was no way they were going to be able to raise my gorgeous grandchildren alone.  You read her blog, you know what I am talking about!  Let's face it, they needed me.  I was driving at least 240 miles a week to spend time with my grandchildren.  Ridiculous.  The decision was made, we would make the move.  Time to come back to the place I always considered going home.  It made sense.  If I was going to drive 240 miles a week why not just drive 600 miles a week and live a few short blocks from Tru Stories again.  That logic is hard to argue.
It is not just moving back.  I have met new people.  We have a huge extended family.  I am involved in trying to make an Impact on my Village. We are making new family traditions. 

This has to be the best example of a big period in our life that turned into a wonderful comma.   Have you had some commas?  Easy Rider and I discussed this.  She can't think of a period that became a comma.  I think it only happens when we face a huge life changing event.
Sure Matthew was probably smoking an illegal substance when he thought of that profound statement.  It probably won't end up in a book of quotes.  But, I will think of it.  When something major changes in my life and I think, PERIOD, I will starting looking for the comma,,,,,
Happy Easter!  Enjoy your families this week-end.  You know I will.