She’s my mom’s oldest sister, who was pretty much more of a mother to my mom than her own mother was. She’s a tough old broad, recovering alcoholic, lifetime smoker, and not always the easiest person to be around, but since I was a teenager, I learned to give as good as I got, and she and I have a fun relationship now. I’m one of the few who can insult her to her face and get away with it because she knows I’m only doing it to give her shit.
About a week and a half ago, she was diagnosed with lung cancer. They said it was so bad that there was nothing they could do and sent her home with a three-week time limit on her life. She took it better than any of us, said she’s smoked for fifty years and she was just waiting for it to happen.
Last night, my mom called again. The cancer’s moved into her brain. So it’s pretty much over. Any tiny little hope that any of us had is gone. Now we just wait.
My husband, my son, and I are heading to Virginia this weekend to witness her baptism on Sunday. My grandpa and my aunt and uncle are coming up from Florida for it. We know this is the last time we’ll ever see her alive. I wanted to make sure she saw the baby again before she died, since she was so excited when he was born. And I’d much rather see her now than wait until her funeral.
I’m worried about my mom. She seems fine right now, but I have a feeling she’s going to fall apart soon, and I’m two states away most of the time.
This seriously fucking sucks.
E.