It’s been a month since my mom passed. Over two months since she got sick. And nearly three months since I returned home. Last you heard, I was charting out my move to Italy. The moment I booked the trip I called my mom to share the news. She was so excited for my next big adventure.
We decided I’d fly home to celebrate my birthday, learn about her experiences there, and spend quality time before I left. But before we could meet, she got very sick and was rushed to the hospital. I cancelled my travels and moved down to be with my father and brother. We weren’t allowed to see her, but the nurses setup an iPad next to her bed so we could FaceTime her every night.
Even hough she couldn’t hear us, we spoke to her for hours each day. We played her favorite music. Got her friends on the line to share their stories. And before we went to sleep, I would read her a bedtime story. And it was always the same one every night: Oh, the places you’ll go.
You see, seventeen years ago my mom got me that book for graduation. And in it, she wrote:
“Dear Ethan,
With love and best wishes on your college graduation. You make us Very proud.
To all the places you’ll go…
Love, Mom and Dad”
And boy, did she love to read about my travels. She would share every post. Tease me playfully in the comments. And recently, I came to learn that she would screenshot every story. She loved to take the journey alongside me. And I loved sharing them with her.
And so, each night I would read her story to her and remind her of all the places we’ve seen together. And that no matter what happened, she would always be there with me. And I with her.
So now, after three months back home, it’s time for me to hit the road again. Life must go on. But I will carry her with me in my heart and in my mind. And now we’ll take the journey together.
To all the places we’ll go…