What We Share When We Are Open

This morning I had to take care of several financial tasks related to my mom. While it is a beautiful (although turning windy) day here in New Mexico and my life goes forward, I never know when grief will appear around the corner. I know this road well and as I traveled between the second bank and Trader Joe's, I thought about Mom and how Easter passed and what my sister said– that we can't just pick up the phone and call her when we want. Or for me, I can't find her around the corner to share something with her. As I was thinking all this, the song "Jungle Love" by The Time came on the radio, one of her favorites. and I smiled, knowing she was letting me know she is with me.

Because I shop there weekly, I know several of the cashiers including the one that helped me today. He asked me how I am, to which I replied good, because really I am good. No matter what I'm going through, today is still a good day. And then he asked me what was new.

I looked at him, unsure what to say so I asked, "Do you really want to know?"

"Yes," he said.

So I told him that my mom had died a month ago.

His reply? His dad died three weeks ago.