[DARISC]

Please forgive me for posting this personal anecdote, but it just occurred to me and I feel it is pertinent to "death awareness'.

My mother lived to be two months short of her 95th birthday. Her last 2 1/2 years were spent living in an assisted living apartment, minutes away from me. I was constantly taxying her to and from dr.'s appt.s and urgent care in emergencies.

On one such return from the urgent care facility, traffic was heavy, Mom was talking my ear off, as always and, being stressed, I asked her, not very respectfully, to lighten up so I could concentrate on driving her home without getting in an accident.

I immediately felt deeply ashamed of myself and my mom instantly became silent. But she quickly broke her silence, very calmly saying, David, you should have more patience with me. I'm dying, you know.

I was absolutely crushed. Then she said, I want to stop at Walmart before you take me home. I need a few things. Mom, I said, you just got out of urgent care! I feel fine. It won't take me long and I need you to push the cart.

Two days later I joined her for dinner with her 'girls' in her assisted living facility's dining room. At 9:30 the next morning I received a phone call from one of her caregivers telling me that at 9:20 she had gone to my mom's apartment to administer her medication and that Mom had died in her sleep.

That was five years ago and as I type this...still, tears of sadness and joy.