She left us early in the morning on November 19, 2008—only 3 1/2 weeks after she was hospitalized.  All four of her children sat with her through her last night.  Just before she died, a grandson and a daughter-in-law arrived.  Our dad, due to his advanced Alzheimer’s, could not be there for her.  Nor would he have understood what was happening to his wife of 58 years.

One well-meaning visitor to the hospital told me that God never puts more on your plate than you can handle.  Listening to her final breaths—and the long, long emptiness that stretched between each one—I’m not sure that’s true. 

Evelyn Crum 1933 - 2008

Goodbye, Mom. 

Love,  S.