Saying Goodbye to a Friend

My mother in law passed away last night. She'd been diagnosed in December with advanced metastatic colorectal cancer. It just all seems so sudden and so unreal. She was the queen of the family, the rock on which everyone else leaned. She was the one who took care of everyone else, and she was worshiped by those around her.

My mom in law was nothing like the stereotypical MILs you hear about. She never judged me. She never told me how to be a wife to my husband, a mother to our child. I feel certain that we made choices with which she didn't agree, but she never once interfered. She was not like a mother to me, because a mother would not hesitate to let you know a better way to do something! :-) My MIL was a friend to me and someone I truly loved.

I don't think any of us ever expected that we'd lose her at such a young age. She was only 65. There's an empty place in our hearts now that won't ever be filled. I hope mom in law is celebrating in heaven this morning. She's going to be just fine now, and in time, we will, too. We owe her that much.