Nine

Today puts all other days in perspective, because today marks the nine year anniversary of Mom's death.

How has nine years already passed? It's hard to wrap my head around it being that long.

I try not to think about things like this too hard, but my mom has been gone for one-third of my life. (Since working with hospital chaplains, I don't like to say things like "gone" or "passed away," but saying "my mom's been dead..." is really hard to say and write and read and think.)

My dad was surprisingly cheerful this morning. Usually he's very sad and depressed on this day and the days leading up to it. Poor Dad.