Skip to main content

Ordinary and Extraordinary.


At the beginning of last week, the good moments, the good days, were starting to outnumber the bad ones.

Smiles were becoming more frequent than tears...the hurt was still there, the memories still the first thing on my mind when I woke...but healing was happening.

Then, Thursday rolled around...and I received news that a wonderful co-worker had passed away after a sudden illness. In the first hour of hearing that news, I felt numb. Still emotionally exhausted from my grief over losing Verd, I couldn't process the feelings I had about Barb's death.

However, I suddenly found the tears hard to keep away, again. It was as if hearing about Barb's death had ripped the freshly formed scabs on my raw emotions right off.
I went to conferences for Belle and E.W., one with a teacher whose children were in Verd's wife's daycare (and so, very close to them) and the other with a teacher who is a children's grief counselor at a summer camp.

I was weepy through the first conference, and talked mostly about Verd...by the second conference, I was full on crying. Apologizing, finding it difficult to talk, watching my sweet husband, in his own grief, go fetch me kleenex.

Returning home, I discovered my Hambone, quietly crying because he "missed Verd"...and I wondered how much my own tears were rubbing off on my children. So, we shared memories and laughed and talked and remembered how fun Uncle Verd was.

Then, last night, I worked. I wrote a memory to Barb's family in the journal our unit started, I read her obituary, and I cried.

And cried and cried and cried. I'd pull it together, only to have someone ask "How are you doing?", and I'd start all over. My tears for Verd mixed with my tears for Barb. Thank goodness I had my best bud working with me to hug me, to cheer me on, to rally me and make me laugh.

Barb was a Verd. Inspirational, kind, heart of gold. A line in her obituary struck me...it was perfect: "Barb was an ordinary and extraordinary person."

Ordinary...just like you and me.

Extraordinary...went the extra mile, smiled, was so kind and genuine and positive and put herself out there to leave her mark on the world.

Just like Verd.

Ordinary and extraordinary.

Heaven has gained two wonderful souls...and we here on earth, are left with open wounds, broken hearts and fabulous memories.



Comments

  1. I'm so sorry, Mama M. I know the grief is raw and I'm praying for you and your family.

    ReplyDelete
  2. You've expressed yourself so very well. I'm hurting with you reading this, only beginning to imagine what it feels like in your shoes at this moment. You're a brave, strong woman, even though you might not feel like it right now. I love this. Ordinary, and extraordinary. Wouldn't we be so lucky to be remembered that way? Something to strive for.

    ReplyDelete
  3. This is so well written. I am so sorry about your coworker, Barb. And about Verd. I think of you often & am praying for you lots. {HUGS!}

    ReplyDelete
  4. Oh, this is awful news! Your tribute to Barb (and Verd) is such a sweet memorial. I don't want to ruin this with a completely off topic comment, but I have to say, I just saw the picture of Mr. Wonderful & you are an absolutely freaking LUCKY lady! (Does he have a brother?)

    ReplyDelete
  5. So so sorry for your losses. Praying for peace in your heart.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I'm so sorry for your loss. Hoping this beautifully written post helped you heal in some way.((HUGS))

    ReplyDelete
  7. I am so sorry for your second loss. You and both families are in my prayers.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

I love comments! And, I welcome your thoughts that aren't in agreement with mine...as long as they are respectful!

Most Popular Posts

Coming soon...

Come here looking for the tutorial? It can be found here:  Halo Braid Tutorial!  Let me know how it goes! I had something in mind to try on Baby Girl's hair the other day...my best bud, Dr. J, did something similar to it on Belle once, and I was trying to replicate it. Instead, I got this: Isn't it pretty?! It didn't take nearly as long as it looks and isn't nearly as intricate as it looks! Vlog tutorial coming soon...(for those of you waiting, I'm sorry it's taking me so long!)

Halo Braid Tutorial!

How appropriate, "halo braid", no?! ;) Finally, I have this ready for you...I apologize for the delay! This braid looks intricate, but is really quite easy and quick to pull off...the original video (prior to the warp speed braiding...watch the video to see what I mean) was just a bit over 8 minutes long...not too shabby! So, here you go...right in time for you to try it out on your little girl for Easter!

Crock-Pot Fajitas

You! Yes, YOU!! You must stop whatevertheheck it is that you are doing, and make this recipe. Right now. Tonight. Well...wait. You should probably finish reading this post first...you know...so you know how to make it... But then...STOP! STOP everything, make this, and thank me later! Oh, hold it...wait just a sec (again)...actually, I got this recipe from Melissa...yes, the Melissa of this story ! And this story ...which, well...is the same story, just told two different ways! ;) So, you can thank her...I guess. Well, in any event...prepare your tastebuds to be tantalized! You'll need this: And, this: You'll also need chicken breasts or steak, but since photographing your "main ingredient" is, like, soooo passe, I've left it out. ( Ahem... ) Just keepin ' up with the times, friend. So...slice up those peppers and onions into cute little strips... And...try your best to not slice up the little fingers that are sneaking away pepper strips... (Lemme just inte