It was an ordinary day. Looking over the many "Shared Memories" and Greeting Cards that my wife and I received in the past week, since the death of my mother. Mom, GG, Grandma, Dorothea E. Woods or Dottie depending upon whom you're talking with, was 90 years-old when she died October 18, 2012. In the middle of September I asked her doctor, who had been making visits to her for the past five years, whether Carol and I should postpone our vacation we were planning for the first two weeks of October. I knew mom's health was failing and I didn't want to be away from home when she died. He assured me that she wasn't near death at that time and he was positive that I would find her alive when I returned. I left on vacation October 2 knowing that mom was in good hands at Moravian Manor in Lititz, PA. The retirement home had my email address and the phone numbers of my brother, sons, daughter and her sister. The much needed vacation was fantastic with total relaxation with two entire weeks of lounging on the beach. Arrived back in Philadelphia October 17 at 1:00 AM and on our way to pick up the car my cell rang. My son, Tad, was calling to see if we made it home safely, but then asked to talk to Carol. Didn't think much of it that he would ask to talk to her at the time, but later I would find the reason for the call. After the hour and a half drive back home with our friends Jerry and Just Sue, we unloaded the suitcases and retired for the rest of the evening. About 7:30 AM I heard our guests stirring so Carol and I got up to say good-bye to them and wish them a safe trip back to State College. When they had departed I told her I was going back to bed for a few more hours. She suggested we shower and head up to Moravian Manor to visit with mom. Then she told me that Tad had notified her during the phone call that mom was gravely ill. Hadn't eaten and had very little to drink during the last two weeks. So we made our trip to visit with mom for what would be the last time we would see her alive. She recognized us as soon as we arrived even though she had a hard time keeping her eyes open. She was in bed, frail as can be, but her head had every hair in place. We talked very little, but she knew we were there. She asked me a few times where she was and I told her at Moravian Manor where she had been for the last five years. She seemed pleased with that. At one point I asked her if she remembered her friends Helen and Dolly who many called, along with mom, the "Golden Girls." I reminded her that they would often go to the Cafe for an afternoon Coke. She then, in a very clear and strong voice said to me, "I sure could use a Coke right now!" You had to know mom to know that was "pure mom." Well, we visited for another half hour and I told her I needed to go home and rest and I would be back at noon tomorrow to visit again. I kissed her and told her I loved her, as did Carol, and we left. On the way home I told Carol that might be the last visit we would have with her. The next morning I went to work at the Gallery in Neffsville, planning to quit at noon to visit with mom. At 10:00 AM I got a call telling me that mom had just died. They had coaxed her to drink some liquid earlier and were going back to bathe her, went into her room and discovered her dead. I headed up Rt. 501 and arrived about fifteen minutes later. I greeted the nurses and headed into her room. It was eerily quiet when I saw her. She looked much the same as the day before, but more at peace. Her eyes were closed, her hands were crossed over her body and the covers were up to her neck. Mom had hoped for this moment for the last few years. She couldn't understand why she had to live any longer. She was ready to go to Heaven and be with God and dad. I assured her that it would someday happen, but when it finally did, I found it hard to handle. More so than when my father died five years ago, also at Moravian Manor. I knew mom was finally without pain and in a better place, but I also felt closer to that same fate at that moment. I sat quietly in her room surrounded by the plastic curtain on one side and the bright sunlight streaming in the windows on the other. After about 15 minutes, with tears in my eyes, I gave her a kiss and touched her hand and said my good-byes for the last time. Thought of my own mortality at that moment. Gathered myself and left the room to be greeted in the hall by the doctor. He gave me his condolences and then told me that he was called to the Manor the past Saturday to check on mom. He told me he didn't think she would last the night. But, Sunday came as did Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. He told me he was amazed that she made it that long, but then realized that she wasn't going die until she was sure that I had gotten home safely. He was sure that was why she remained alive until after I got home. I looked at him, tears flowing down my checks, as he gave me a tissue. He told me that some people have such a strong will to live for one reason or another and her having to see me one last time was her reason. I thanked him for five great years of care and he left. Coming down the hall was Pastor Rich who spent another half hour with me telling me that he and mom had talked a few times about what was going to happen to her when she died and she was ready for it. She was at peace with God right now. Then it hit me again, more tears. Wow, come on I thought. You can handle it. We ended out conversation and I thanked all the care givers in mom's area and I left. Not wanting to go home, I headed back to work. I needed to be with someone. At work I made the call to my wife, brother, aunt and other family members. In the days following I made call after call to friends and also made funeral arrangements with Lisa from Groff Family Funeral Services. She's a real sweetheart and a tremendous help to me. Tomorrow I will tell you about mom's Life Celebration and how mom would have loved it. It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.
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