Two Years Without You

Mom,

November 24, 2019 marks two years since you have left my presence. It’s correct that as time goes on memories about you fade, but what I have realized is that no matter how many years pass, the hurt, guilt, and grief that I all feel are still continuous.

Each time we were together, I saw how much of a kindhearted spirit you truly were. When I had to make difficult decisions alongside your Daughter without you, I began to realize that you needed to be laid to rest in the utmost respectable and honorable way.

By doing such, that wouldn’t allow myself to remember the way I found you, but rather as “The Shandog”, who was a single Mother of two wonderful children, and who did everything in her rightful power to make sure her two children never went without throughout their lives.

I learned several great skills from you Mom growing up and living with you for seventeen years of my life. Some of the greatest skills that I learned from you were how to be kind to one another, to never hold any poor judgements or grudges against other individuals, to lend a helping hand whenever and wherever feasible, and to believe in yourself that if you strive to achieve a dream, it will come true.

Knowing that I am so close to my college educational career being completed, much like you were several years ago, I know that all throughout these past two years you have been right beside me every step of the way.

Often, I get reminded much like you did by our family members to relax my anxiety and know that with patience, the right opportunity will come my way to be the news anchor that I have always dreamed of becoming one day.

Your Daughter, Danielle, and your Son, always have our days of sorrow and our days of laughter throughout each year, but the hole in both our hearts will never be full like it once was without you a part of our lives anymore.

I wish I could feel the loving touch you always had, feel your hugs, hear you say “JoJo” or “Noonin” in the way that you always did. But I know that God had a plan for you and that it was your time to crossover.

You taught me so many great skills, told me so many terrific stories, and were the best Mother a Son could have ever asked for. I will make sure that your grandchildren will always remember who their “Ninno” is, up until my final hours with my children. I love you Mom, I will miss your presence every day, forever and always.

Love,

Your JoJo