Catherine Stine's IDEA CITY

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Thursday, August 13, 2015

Sometimes writing & selling take a back seat to a SUPER-REAL, Cosmic life event

My mom with my sister (on right) and me (on left)
I'm going to write about a personal matter, which I normally don't do. But I feel led to, so be it. My mom passed away on July 28. My husband and I were there, holding her hand and talking to her. My brother was there as well. It was a rough but intensely profound experience. Beautiful, really. This was after we had been with her off and on for two days prior.

But death comes at inconvenient times. We are all such busy people, aren't we? I was in the middle of a huge NYC RWA book con, and I was about to do a book signing with 450+ authors.

It was a no-brainer. I bailed, and dashed down to Philly where she was. Life can be long - she was 87 - and still we fight for it with our life force as it wanes.

The experience of seeing someone I love die in front of my eyes made it so very clear that time is precious and one must work now to make dreams real, and write those stories that matter dearly.

I've had amazing dreams for these last two weeks - colorful, adventurous, rather psychedelic. Life comes bounding back. And back, And back. And joy reigns.

What kind of real life moments have you had that trump everything else?

16 comments:

  1. Sometimes our writer lives must take a backseat to real life. I'm so sorry for your loss.

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    1. Real life trumps all, and ironically, it's where we get the best plot-lines for our fiction. The writers' circle of life. LOL.

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  2. I'm so sorry to hear about your mom passing. I'm sure it meant the world to her that you were there. Book events will come and go. Life is about those moments you can't get back. You chose wisely.

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    1. Thanks, Kelly, well, we read her lots of books those last two days. They say hearing is the last to go.

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  3. I am so sorry, Catherine. This was beautifully written. I'm sure she's proud and smiling down at you. Being there makes a world of difference. Gives some semblance of peace. <3

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  4. I'm so sorry about the loss of your mother, though I am glad you got to be there with her and ease her passing. It's definitely good to remember how precious time is--something I know I need to remember often.

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  5. My sincere sympathies for the loss of your mother, but it's wonderful that you got to spend time with her and that you have such beautiful memories. Death does have a way of putting things in perspective. As do serious health scares. I had one a year ago, and now the thought often runs through my mind, "If this were your last day on earth, what would you like to do with it?" I never really change much of what I'm doing, but it makes me far less likely to do things I don't want to do. No more being a martyr or wasting time pleasing others who take, and take, and take. Yes, priorities change when you go through powerful life experiences. I hope you have a very good weekend. :)

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    1. Lexa, well said. No more wasting time with people and activities that aren't positive. No more martyrdom.

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  6. My condolences to you and your family. This was such a moving post. It's wonderful you got to be with her.

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  7. I'm so sorry for you and your family's loss. Having been present when both my father and father-in-law passed away, I know you will draw comfort and strength at being there during your mother's final moments. You are right when you say experiencing this has made you realise how precious life is. Our time really is fleeting, so spend it with the people you love and doing the things that bring you greatest joy.

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  8. I'm so sorry for you and your family's loss. Having been present when both my father and father-in-law passed away, I know you will draw comfort and strength at being there during your mother's final moments. You are right when you say experiencing this has made you realise how precious life is. Our time really is fleeting, so spend it with the people you love and doing the things that bring you greatest joy.

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  9. That's such a sweet picture of you with your mom. I was at my dad's side when he passed away and you are so right, it's an experience that definitely gives you a new perspective. So sorry again for your loss.

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