Emelia and Grace - The Last Day

Emelia and Grace - The Last Day

Day 7

Emelia and Grace had the power to re-direct the course of their own paths we know. Unfortunately, Emelia did not travel a positive path. It was not only unfortunate for her during her last chapter, but it was also unfortunate for her husband, her daughter Emma, and her friends.  

Thank you for sharing in Emelia and Grace's journey. This was an important one for you to see. The choices we make while we are still here affect many people in so many ways. Dying is the hardest thing we will ever have to do. While we don't have a choice to participate if we die in our sleep or have a tragic accident, we do have a choice when given a diagnosis with a few months to live. 

Emelia woke up on a Sunday morning just like today. She got dressed and went down to the kitchen. The stairs were more difficult to tackle with each passing day. She managed to make a cup of tea. Her husband walked past, saying goodbye, he was off to play racquetball with the guys. Emma followed him and didn't say a word. Emelia went back to her room, closed the blinds and went back to bed. 

Grace, on the other hand, searched through her closet with Annie looking for her favorite coral dress. She was all showered and just needed help getting dressed and with putting on a little makeup. Today was a big day. In two hours, eighty people would be arriving in a private room behind her favorite Italian restaurant in town. There would be a DJ, slide show, speeches and more. Grace had help in planning a Celebration of Life. All of her friends made a dish for the buffet table. Coral and white, the theme of the event. She even noted on the invitation for all to wear her favorite colors. The plan was to Celebrate her life. There were photo boards that everyone helped with. All her favorite foods, coral and white candles, balloons and decorations. They even enlisted a Pastor to come and read beautiful readings in-between the festivities. All of the music was Grace's favorite and the Champagne was flowing. The flowers were mainly all in white with touches of coral and seafoam green. It was an amazing event! People took turns sharing, speaking and telling stories. Memories were flying around the room, laughter was filling the air. The restaurant allowed them to stay three hours past the usual five. There was more, too many things to list. I know you get the gist. 

It was about three months later when the news arrived. Both Emelia and Grace had passed away. Emelia's husband was afraid in the end, Emelia never stated her final wishes. 911 was called. Graces husband sat by her side in silence. Emma never made it to the hospital on time. It was cold, it was dark. Emma's relationship with her Dad grew stale, they drifted. Emma moved away and her Dad eventually died alone. Emma suffered so much anger, you could see it in her marriage and in her relationships with her children. Really so sad. 

At Graces funeral, there were smiles, yes, smiles. All they talked about was the Celebration of Life and how grateful they were to have experienced this time with her. Once again, there was laughter, stories and celebrated remembrances. Annie grew to be a wonderful Mom who lived in the same town as her Dad. There were family events and sleepovers with all the grandchildren. Life was good. 

I can only help you've seen a side to life that we don't talk about. Dying is the second leading fear in the world! It is scary, we deny it will happen to us even if we are the one with the diagnosis. Can you see how choices can scarily affect everyone around you? Do you see how they can affect the next generation and the next? We need to be open and have honest communication at the end of life. Things aren't as clear cut as the story I've written this past week, that is obvious. However, stories like this are happening all around us, every day. Let's be the change. Let's do end of life better than we've done it over the past generations. We come into the world in a warm and celebratory way, in most cases, there is no reason we can't leave it in the same loving and celebratory way. Help someone in your life do things a little differently. You too, can help guide, direct and think outside of the box during the most important milestone in their life. Be the positive light they need today, now, before they don't get to have their next day. Be the one!