61 years later

Day 1.

25 years later.

61 years later.

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My mom passed away friday morning. She was battling cancer for a few years and it seemed under control so this was sudden and a surprise for all of us. 

I am still processing this.

Most of you reading would never have met her but if you have listened to a podcast or read my newsletter then you would be familiar with the story I always tell… I’m 15 years old sitting on the floor looking at pictures of Bruce Lee and she asks what I’m going to study in school… i inform her that school wasn’t going to be important to me because I was going to be a famous martial artist like Bruce Lee.

I saw my mom in August and wondered if it was the last time I would see her, hug her, kiss her.  It was. 

My mom and I spoke on FaceTime several times this week. She was so lucid and funny. She reminded me how proud she was of me, of that 15 year old boy. She remembered that conversation and brought it up again this week. She was so dignified to the end and reminded me what true fear management was about.

We often wait for tragedy to remind us to pay attention to what really matters. So as cliche as this sounds, here’s three thoughts: life happens fast.  Death even faster.  Embrace your relationships. 

Love to all of you.

Tony