...and so it goes...

A few days ago, I posted a blog about Janet, my mom. 

It was written from the heart. And it was written, too, because at times I find I am better able to express myself in writing than with speaking.

(I daresay anyone who knows me well can't FATHOM that I would ever have a hard time talking. ever. to anyone. about anything.)

I wrote it for me, to make sure I'd always remember some of her.  I wrote it for her, so that I could be certain she knew just how much I loved her and how much she meant to me, and yes, to let her know that despite all my years of teenage moodiness, I really did listen and all those lessons did actually take hold.

And I guess there's a part of me too that wrote it for family and friends.
That post took off like I would never ever have imagined. It was shared and reposted and read over and over - not because of me and some riveting style of writing I'd presented (though that doesn't sound awful), but because of her. 

That post about my mom took off all around the Cyber World because of how incredibly amazing my mom was. Because of just how many friends she'd made, people she'd impacted, examples and lessons she'd taught, and of course, her famous trait, by how many stray people she'd adopted. 

I write in the past tense about her, you see, because she passed away early this morning. She passed away in her sleep, while Shannon, John and I were at her side.  It was early morning, the sun not quite up. We hugged her and kissed her, made her cozy in her bed, and then the three of us had morning coffee. As she would have wanted. 

And then we began to share the news. Emails, phone calls, texts, instant messages, facebook posts, and so on. 

And over the course of the day, we have been (and continue to be) inundated with calls, emails, texts, messages, and so on - from all of those people that she touched. 

I have had notes that have brought tears to my eyes - from people I don't even know. I don't know them, but they know me, because of her.  People want to share in our grief, to help ease our pain, and do whatever they can to keep her spirit alive. 

I am overwhelmed -  but this is a good problem to have.  To get to be the daughter of someone loved by so very many is an honor. 

If you knew her, pray that her kind of spirit, generosity and love continues to flourish in this ever-insane world. If you knew her, pay it forward. And if you knew her, and you've reached out to us, and haven't heard back.. know that we have gotten your messages, and will try our best to respond.

Without a doubt in my mind, she is up there with other Angels living it up. Making a kickass redsauce to be followed up with a damn good cheesecake.