A Remembrance Video of Mattie

Thank you for keeping Mattie's memory alive!

Dear Mattie Blog Readers,

It means a great deal to me that you take the time to write and to share your thoughts, feelings, and reflections on Mattie's battle and death. Your messages are very meaningful and help support me through very challenging times. I am forever grateful. As my readers know, I promised to write the blog for a year after Mattie's death, which would mean that I could technically have stopped writing on September 9, 2010. However, like my journey with grief there is so much that still needs to be processed and fortunately I have a willing support network still committed to reading. Therefore, the blog continues on. If I should find the need to stop writing, I assure you I will give you advanced notice. In the mean time, thank you for reading, thank you for having the courage to share this journey with me, and most importantly thank you for keeping Mattie's memory alive.


As Mattie would say, Ooga Booga (meaning, I LOVE YOU)! Vicki



June 16, 2025

Monday, June 16, 2025

Monday, June 16, 2025

Tonight's picture was taken in June of 2006. Mattie was four years old. I know this photo had to be taken on a weekend, because it was a weekend occurrence that we typically went together to explore the Island. We loved seeing the Island during every season! Even in the winter, it was a wonderful walk, but there was something magical about seeing all the plants and trees sprouting back to life in the spring! I miss seeing these sights, I miss having these walks with Mattie and I miss my family of three!


Quote of the day: Healing from betrayal is a personal journey. It's about finding inner strength, learning to trust yourself again, and creating a better future. ~ Unknown


This morning, I headed to the city, to take my mom to the salon. Somehow in my mind I thought the appointment was only for a manicure and pedicure. It did not register to me that I also booked her six week hair appointment. Therefore, I only told my mom she was going for her nails. When I walked into the salon, the salon manager escorted us to the changing room for my mom. I looked at her confused, and said.... my mom is only getting her nails done. At which point, I actually looked at the calendar on my phone and realized.... NO I was wrong. My mom was getting hair and nails done today. I truly do not like being confused and overwhelmed. That was bad enough, but it was what happened next that disturbed me for the rest of the day.

In the middle of the salon, my mom practically had a tantrum. She got very upset with me that I did not tell her she was getting her hair done. She said, I "blew it." Now mind you I did not do this on purpose, I am just juggling so much, that honestly I am lucky I knew enough to go to the salon this morning. My mom had no understanding for how upsetting it was to be ridiculed in the middle of the salon. She acts as if I am typically a scatterbrain, who doesn't manage things well! On the contrary, I would like to see anyone else juggle what I do each day, caregiving for my parents around the clock for four years without even one day break, run Mattie's Foundation alone, maintain this house, manage all bills, taxes, and all other crises, without cracking up.

My mom was so upset, that I really thought I would have to turn around and go home. But I remained CALM throughout the entire time. I basically said, I made a mistake, but she was there, so it made sense to get her hair done. She eventually went with the process and had a good visit, but honestly I was a mess for the rest of the day. I ranged from being internally angry, to feeling absolutely overwhelmed. It is moments like this, that I want to be outdoors, walk around, and regroup. But that was just not possible. Which maybe why for the rest of the day, I was very edgy and upset. Even when I got home, it was raining outside, so I couldn't spend the necessary time in my garden. 

Then the reality hit me. ONCE AGAIN! I have been left to manage the impossible by myself. Sometimes one tries to understand that the future won't always be this way. But for me the future looks even more daunting than my current circumstances. It was just an emotionally challenging day, on top of many other horrible days over these last two years.  

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