the broken zipper

There are people that touch your lives even if you have never met them.

I think one of the best things about the internet is connecting with others that you wouldn't have ever met before.

I am touched beyond words at this family. Valerie is a photographer but most importantly...a mom and a wife...a wife who is losing her husband.

I saw this video a couple of weeks ago on her blog. Through my tears I emailed her and ask her if I could show it on the blog...she politely said yes and said she was flattered. I don't know her but I love her...odd uh? I feel that sense of love for her and I just want to hug her and tell her what a wonderful and courageous person she is.

She has two little ones that are watching their Daddy struggle to live to each day. I just read her last blog post {I'm afraid to read each day hoping not to read the words we all don't want to read}...the post hit me hard...very hard. They had to take him to the hospital in the middle of the night due to pain....the ambulance came to get him...my memories came flowing back and I was not prepared for that.

The last time I saw my Dad, the ambulance came to our house to take him away to the hospital...I was 13 years old. He died of lung cancer a few days later. I was heading out for the beach for a week babysitting for a family {more of a mommy's helper}. I knew when the ambulance took him away I'd never see him again. I'm sad to say I was relieved. We had watched him slowly die for the last year...I think we were all ready for the pain and suffering to end. The day he died I was at the beach house watching TV with the kids I was babysitting...it had rained all day and the feeling in the air was a cold, dreary feeling and I can't even describe the haunting way the sky looked. I'll never forget the way the air felt that day. As I watched TV, the phone rang. The parents and their friends were in the kitchen happily cooking and laughing when one grabbed the phone. Suddenly everyone was quiet and they began whispering...I knew that second but tried to keep watching TV..hoping the call had not happened. The sweet Mom {who was also our neighbor and knew our family well} walked over to me and ask me if I would walk outside with her....no...please don't ask me to go outside. I slowly walked out starting to cry. She told me that was my mom on the phone...and the rest is a blur. I do remember her telling me that she too had lost a parent when she was my age...her mom and that she knew what I was going through...and she truly did. But all I could think was thank god it wasn't my mom. I remember walking back inside and everyone was there just watching me. It was a horrible feeling. I wanted {needed} my mom so bad. I went into the bedroom and packed my suitcase and as I was zipping it, the zipper broke. I was crying so hard I couldn't see. I didn't know then that for the rest of my life when I zip a suitcase, I think of that moment.

This post wasn't supposed to be about me...I sat down here to write about Valerie...and in turn I told the story that I have never told anyone.

Please pray for Valerie... please pray for Wayne... and their family.

Kiss those babies of yours today and hold them a little tighter...tell them the things you love most about them. Call your Mom and Dad today if you are lucky enough to still have them around. Tell them that you love them. Tell your spouse you love them...and will through sickness and in health...till death do you part.

Click her to visit Valerie's blog

The video was made by Jami Davis