Moments and Milestones

Sometimes,  moments become milestones and gestures of love and caring become deep and emotional, either from the one who gives or from the one who recieves or both. Sometimes words are not necessary and the silence of the moment embraces all the truth, the tears, the letting go, the holding on, the bumpy ride and the soft landing on the other side of understanding. Sometimes, we are touched in such a way that our trembling soul finds it's embracement in another, trembling together there is found harmony and soon the trembling takes flight to a magical rythum of softness, divineness, pure understanding, true compassion being in the light and basking in its warmth and embrace as one.

As I lye in bed I am gently nudged to wakefulness and standing there in all their sweetness are Pam (my supervisor at Blue Cross)  and Lacy the District Manager. As tears fill my eyes I am embraced by their sincere concern and assured that my job is secure and I have nothing to fear. They will take care of everything. What a huge relief to know that your company truly cares about you as a person and that your supervisors are also your friends.

During our conversation, I am presented with a package from Pam. I am told that it's a special delivery from her boyfriend Glen. I am also told that she was given explicit instructions that the package was to be opened by me only. Ok, I'm intrigued...I wrestle with the well taped box that could only have been done this securily by a man...I finally ask for assistance and between the 3 of us we are able to loosen all of the tape securing the box...Pam and Lacy step back, we all take a deep breath and I slowly lift the flaps so the lid opens. Its wrapped in 2 miles of bubble wrap and I say "it feels fragile"....I just didn't realize how fragile at that moment. As I finally reveal the contents of the box, I am delighted to see a beautiful Mickey Mouse Snow Globe. Emotions start bubbling up inside of me and as I look up at Pam, I see tears in her eyes and she softly whispers, "now I know why he didn't want me to know"

 As Pam continued with her story, she shares with me that Glens former wife Becky died of Uterine Cancer and the Mickey Mouse Snow Globe belonged to her. Pam said that he had been having a very difficult time dealing with her death. We cried and through my tears I looked at Pam and said, "he's letting go".

Glen, I hope you know how much your gesture of love means to me. And also to the wife that you lost. I know she is looking at you right now with pride and not only are you giving her the freedom to take flight, you are also giving yourself permission to move on. This was a huge step for you and a humbling moment for me. You have touched me in a way that is difficult to describe, you see Glen, my husband Rand also lost a wife to cancer, her name was Barbara, and Mickey Mouse was one of her favorite characters too...and the scenario was much the same except for one distinct difference. It wasn't Rand that couldn't let go, but I that  couldn't let go of Barbara. Even though I never knew her, she was part of me. Rand and I have spent many nights in tearful conversation with Rand trying to help me accept, deal with, embrace, forget, understand, let go...  and now, Rand is faced with the possibility of losing 2 wives to cancer. So Glen, please know, I understand the enormity of what you have done by placing this special piece of Becky in my care.

I will treasure your gift forever and carry its memory and meaning in my heart, I will share its story at every opportunity and  be forever grateful for this experience that was shared between us.