This is something that is difficult and unexpected of me to write.

My mother died 5 years ago today.

It’s not something I usually tell people or enjoy talking about (who would?).  I don’t want people to pity my situation or tell me they’re sorry 5,000 times.  Although I appreciate people’s warm thoughts, I usually find it easier to keep this extremely important information to myself.

Today I feel like I want to honor my mother.  It’s been 5 years and I finally feel comfortable enough with her death to talk about it openly. 

Her life and death shaped me more than I will ever realize.  She was beautiful and warm, she was the person that everyone loved.

I hope to be that person some day. 

I miss her all the time.  The first year after her death was extremely difficult on me and my entire family. 

It is sad that Brad will never meet her.  I can only tell him of her love and strength.

My mother was strong.  She fought hard against cancer for 15 years.  She was determined to raise me and see me graduate from high school.  And she did.  She was released from the hospital the weekend that I graduated and she was grinning ear to ear when I walked across that stage.

She was an incredible woman, and it pains me to think about how much I miss her.  I’m glad that I am able to write this and remember her. 

So anyhow, I don’t want to write this to get all teary-eyed, I wanted to write this to remember an incredible woman.

In memory of Donna Michel; wife, daughter, mother, friend, and wonderful human being. 

You are missed dearly.

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