Quote Originally Posted by Islandborn
It was me and my mother most of my life. My dad died when I was 3 years old and in the past 10 years both my grandparents have passed away. Both my fathers parents died of cerosis in their 50's.......so now its just my mom who turned 60 this year. I have blood relatives in Europe but none left in the states besides my wife and kids (which is perfect for me) and Im going through a bit of panic over my mom dying.....I am NOT ready for her to go yet. I don't feel ready if that makes any sense. My wife gets frustrated with me sometimes cause I worry so much about her dying and feeling kinda like an orphan when I have them with me but I just can't help it.

Sorry to rant.....this has been troubling me for some time now.....had to vent it. Any thoughts from some older folks who may have been through this?
You shouldn't worry so much about it. Worry doesn't add to, or take away from the events of time. Worry only serves to tear down, and cause grief. Your mother wants you to be happy.

What is good about the whole thing is, you are living life to the fullest. We all want to be happy and to have long lives. To enjoy time spent with loved ones. All that is part of a full life. Then there is the other side of the coin. A full life also involves sorrow and pain. How can we know happiness unless we experience sorrow.

The loss can be hard to bare. In my life the losses have piled up. My brother, a nephew, grandma & pa, 2 aunts, my dad, a dear woman that I was engaged to, my loving step father and a cousin have all passed from this realm. Each and every one of them going hurt like hell. The most hurt is when Joanne passed. She and I were to be married. I loved her so much, it still hurts even as I write this. Even so, she helped me then and now to live all life has to offer. Good and bad.

More often than not, when I think of her or the others, I think of good times and the laughs we had. The love we shared. That is the gift.

So try to not worry so much. Instead, use that energy to make these times the best memories of her. Enjoy every second you are with her. Then you will have a gift from her that will last a life time. A gift you can share with your children. The gift of fond memories.

Setting an example like that, your children will do the same, and you will be the one giving that gift.

Ecclesiastes 3
1To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
2A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;