August 27, 2026, is the date we received the phone call. We knew it would come. We just didn’t know when. And even though we knew it was coming, it doesn’t change the fact that when it does, you still aren’t ready. If you have had a loved one fighting a disease, cancer, or an illness for any length of time, then you know what I am talking about when I say “The Phone Call”.
The phone call that tells you your loved one is no longer with you on this planet. The one that sends your body into shock. The phone call that brings tears to your eyes. The one that leaves a hole in your heart. No matter how long you’ve been expecting the phone call, you never know how you will actually react when you get it.
We got the phone call the evening we got back from an AMAZING Harley ride. It was just My Prince and I riding the back roads of Utah, Oregon (my 50th state!), Washington, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming. We did six states in six days. We saw a few friends along the way and one friend who turned 90. We saw beautiful sights of pine-tree-filled mountains, mountain streams, mountain lakes, winding roads along rivers, hot natural springs, and cute little lodges. It was one of the most beautiful trips.
Needless to say, we stopped at our favorite brewery, Offset Bier, on our way back into Park City. We were telling friends about our trip when My Rock’s sister called. I saw his face, and my heart sank. It had happened. His mother passed away. We had seen her a few weeks prior, and she looked weak, but she wanted to get back to her home. We got to hold her hand and hug her. We got to say, “I love you”.
But it still hurts when you get that phone call. You are relieved that your loved one is in a better, more peaceful place. You are relieved they aren’t hurting anymore. You are relieved they are reunited with loved ones in Heaven. But it doesn’t change the fact that it still hurts, and it leaves a void for those of us still on Earth.
My mother-in-law had a wonderful life. She had two beautiful children and four wonderful grandchildren. She got to see the world through her days as “Charlie”, the American Airlines Flight Attendant. After she retired, she stayed in Texas for over 20 years. We finally convinced her to move closer to family. She had a brief stay in West Virginia before living out her final few years in sunny Florida. If you are close to us, you know there are hours of stories about her adventures (or should I say misadventures) in Fort Myers. Some frustrating, some hilarious, and some unbelievable. We will have plenty of memories to talk, laugh, and cry about for years to come.
Her last few months were tough. She kept fighting pneumonia and said she felt like she was drowning. No one wants to live like that, and after fighting for several weeks, her body gave up. She was able to make it back to her assisted living apartment, where she felt at home. She went peacefully, and that’s all we can ask for.
Even though it’s still surreal, we are heading to Fort Myers this weekend to clean out her apartment. We will spend time with our family looking at pictures and reminiscing about Charlie’s life. We will celebrate what would have been her 79th birthday on Monday. We will be thankful for the time we had with her, and we will look for those Signs from Heaven that she is still here watching over us and proud of the family we have become.
Photo by Quino Al on Unsplash
