Father's Day turned Mother's Day

Here are some personal thoughts not related to art! Here we go~

So today was Father's Day and per the celebration, my sister and I made our way down to my father's house to have some quality dinner time. Instead of just being the four of us (my pops, stepmom, sister and I) my dad thought it'd be nice to invite his close family friends (a married couple who have been a part of our lives for decades and travels to different countries with my parents). Needless to say, there was sake and sushi and oh my god was there sushi (too much). 

The wife (let's call her Lady M) has been a close family friend for so long, she was very close with my mom before my stepmom was ever in the picture. As our group made our way from dinner to a nearby Dunkin' Donuts for some coffee, Lady M pulled me away from the group to see how I was really doing. It had been years since I've seen her (with school and work etc) so she was very eager to hear what I had been up to. One thing led to another and we were seated on a bench outside while everyone else piled into DD and Lady M talked to me about my mom.

Not a lot of people talk to me about my mom. Whether it's out of respect for me or just awkwardness to talk about their dead friend to the daughter. But either way, stories of my mom are hard to come by and unfortunately with my aging, the memories of her are also fading. So when Lady M decided to talk to me about my mom, I felt overwhelmed (but to be fair, today was just full of emotions but that's a story for never. LOL private). Lady M said she used to be real close with my mom which I can believe cause Lady M's character is all or nothing (friends included). During the time my mom was sick (and she had faith she would pull through) she was tell Lady M that when she was better, they were going to do so much good together. My mom and Lady M made endless plans that never got fulfilled and 3 years after my mom's passing, Lady M was overcome with longing for her friend. Lady M said that her paralyzing sadness must have made God show mercy because that night, my mom appeared to Lady M in a dreamlike vision.

"Your mom looked not just happy but at peace." At first, hearing this made me feel relieved but at the same time just a tinge of... disappointment. Didn't she miss us? Doesn't she know how much we miss her? But how quickly was that sentiment put down. Lady M continued on, "She wasn't sad or worried because she had such complete faith in her Father to take care of you. She just relayed to me that she wants your father to be happy. For your sister to be happy. For you to be happy. So later when your dad said he was getting remarried, I just thought back to your mom and all I could do was support him." There were waterworks, a lot of hugging, and hand holding. 

So, to my mom: Thank you for being such a good character that even after you had gone, your friends stepped up to care and watch out for us. It truly takes a village to raise a child and your village was so good. I love you.

To Lady M: Thank you for being such an angel on earth and loving not just me, my sis, or my pop, but loving my mom so much and then welcoming my stepmom in. 

That's how my Father's Day turned into a Mother's Day -- go call your parents, your sibs, or friends and just tell them I love you. It couldn't hurt and if anything, it just might be the healing they need. Love you folks.

xx, oj

ps. Here's me and my pops for the memz.