Because of her.

Thursday, July 16, 2015

I stood on the beach of the wave pool with the water slowly touching my toes as each wave hit the shore. I was holding my red rescue tube, the strap around my chest, holding the end, precisely as I was trained. 10 minutes on, 10 minutes off.

The waves finally ended and I put my rescue tube down and went to collect the abandoned tubes that had washed up on the shore. I stacked them neatly to the left of the wave pool: biggest on the bottom to keep from falling over. A patron came over and asked for the best way to get into Maine. I told him to go back into town and take the Kancamangus highway into North Conway, from there he could figure it out.

During the conversation, my boss had walked over. Once I was done talking, I turned to him with a smile, hoping he would let me leave early.

With a sigh he said,

“Your brother and step dad are waiting in the gift shop”

With no other words to explain, I understood. I knew what he was trying to tell me.

I felt weak, my knees buckled and I had no words to respond.

When I entered the gift shop my brother and stepdad were standing there, trying to hold it all in. My brother wrapped his arms around me and said, “I know, I know, but we can get through this, remember that.”

My mother had been fighting cancer for 6 years and the day she passed away everything that made me love her rushed from her heart and warmed me.

I’m reminded every day when I look in the mirror of the person she helped me become.

Someone who is caring and considerate of others with disabilities.

An advocate for ending childhood hunger.

A proud member of Habitat for Humanity having built homes in Nicaragua,

And someone who is dedicating my life to improving the health of those all over the world.

Because of her,

I am passionate.

I am gracious.

I am understanding,

I am strong.

And for that, I am forever thankful.