On this day, 19 years ago, I had one of those life-changing experiences. You know – one where your whole world changes.
19 years ago, it was a Wednesday and a public holiday in South Africa. We spent the day with Elaine and her family and for that I am extremely grateful. We got the ‘phone call' from the hospital around 8-ish at night to tell us my mom had died.
I was 16, my sister 12 and my brother 10. For as long as I can remember, she had been in and out of hospital fairly often. I’m still not really sure why but that was our life and we dealt with it.
The days, weeks and months following that were some of the hardest for me. The pain eased a little over the years but it became massively worse when I found out I was pregnant with Pup. Maybe it was ‘just hormones’ but I really did pick up the phone (a few times) to call her. (Someone suggested I phone my mum-in-law instead, mainly because I actually knew that number.)
I often wonder where my life path would have taken me if she had not died. And sometimes that scares me more than anything. Would I still have had a wonderful husband, three lovely boys and live in Australia? Would I actually be the person I am now? I guess I’ll never know.
I do know that I’ve been very blessed to have some incredibly strong and influential women in my life – my Mom, Norma, Elaine and Yvonne.
