Today is the anniversary of my mother’s death. I was not with my mom when she crossed to the other side. She wouldn’t have known if I had been. She had Alzheimer’s her last few years. One time, my daughter, who was thirteen at the time, and I went to see her at the nursing home. She had no idea who I was and called my daughter a Japanese spy.

My daughter cried for three days and kept asking me what happened to Nana. Why did she say that about me? She asked. My heart broke for her. I told her Nana would never say that. Her Nana was already gone.

I know she is in a much better place now, with my dad and two brothers. Life can suck sometimes, but it’s still good!