One Year

One year since you left the house for the last time…

One year since I was told there was nothing more they could do for you…

One year since I heard your sweet voice say, “I love you, Kel”…

One year since your eyes finally opened one last time and you looked at me…

One year since I could hear the ticking of your mechanical heart valve slowing down…

One year since I kissed your forehead and held your hand as I guided you on your transition…

One year since I heard that final “tick, tick” of your heart valve and you took your last breath here and your first breath there…

One year without the physical presence of the one person who knew me the longest and loved me the most…

One year and there hasn’t been a day that I’m not grateful that you were my mother and hopeful that I will see you again someday.

I love you, Mom. I always have and I always will.

I was never ashamed to hold Mom’s hand. Even when she got on a sewing kick and made these matching “flower power nightmare” pants.
I hardly stopped holding her hand in the hospital.

8 thoughts on “One Year

  1. You both look very cute and chic in those mother-daughter pants, Kelly. First time I’ve seen that photo, a treasure. No mother ever had a more devoted daughter than you. You were both blessed with love and kindness and joy.
    Big hugs, Aunt LaVerne

  2. This photo was taken down at Uncle Ray’s and Aunt Vi’s. I loved those trips down to Huntington Beach. Thank you for those sweet words. I was blessed to have had such a wonderful mother. I am equally blessed to have such a loving aunt.

  3. Really beautiful words and a great photo! Your mom was lucky to have a great daughter like you and we were all lucky to have her.

  4. Thank you, Annie. As you know, the last years were hard, but I wouldn’t have traded her for any other mother. She felt very lucky to have you too.

  5. Hi Kelly Reiterman,
    Hope you are well! So very sorry for the loss of your Mother…She was a wonderful lady…Tomorrow she would have been 90 years old…Amazing!!!

    This is Jessica Mercado-Murphy from I.C.E.
    I have so many fantastic memories of that little Catholic school. So many in fact, that I married Joe Murphy…I reach out to you too, and I wanted to wish you the Very Very Best…

    Please forgive me for any past wrongdoings… I was young and very immature back then…
    You were a good friend back then and I hope that we can be friends again. I would like to catch up with you if you would allow me the honor. Joe and I live in Pacifica. Maybe we can meet up for a cup of coffee or tea and catch up with one another… Looking forward to hearing back from you!! ❤

    Take Care,
    Jessica 🥰

  6. Hi Kelly,
    Just wanted to let you know that I am thinking of you today….the day that your Mom would have been 90 years old…

    Hope that you are well and celebrating the outstanding/long-lasting memories of your Mom…and Dad, too! May they Rest in Peace!!

    Your old schoolmate,
    Jessica
    P..S. Joe says “Hi!” as well.

  7. Hi Jessica. Thank you for your sweet comments! There are no wrongdoings to forgive. All of my memories of you are all very positive. It would be great to meet up and catch up with you and Joe.

  8. It was so wonderful reading your kind comments about Mom and Dad. I feel very blessed to have been their daughter. I just added a new brief post for Mom’s birthday. Say “hi” to Joe for me as well and let’s definitely plan to get together one of these days.

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