Monday, January 18, 2016Tonight's picture was taken in April of 2007. We took Mattie to Calvert Cliffs in Maryland. This wonderful nature preserve was incredibly special and memorable, because after an almost two mile walk along beautiful paths, you come to a beach on the Bay. What this beach is known for is its fossilized sharks teeth. I can't tell you how Mattie and Peter perfected their beach combing skills. Needless to say we never left a visit to Calvert Cliffs without finding a tooth. I still have a collection of these teeth in a Ziploc bag. We have tried visiting Calvert Cliffs after Mattie died, but it was very hard for Peter and rather depressing for us.
Quote of the day: Death wasn’t a movie where the pretty star faded away with a touch of pale makeup and every hair in place. ~ Soheir Khashoggi
When I saw this quote today, my response to it was..... absolutely! I remember Mattie's sedation nurse angel once said to me.... death happens but it isn't natural. Of course at the time I had no idea what she meant, until I experienced Mattie's six hour death of torture. Movies and TV portray people just dying peacefully, almost like not waking up from sleep. Certainly for many people death is this way. But that isn't the case for everyone and for patients like Mattie who have disease in their lungs, dying almost resembles a slow drowning in one's fluids. Except the drowning isn't quick!
When I received this gift tonight, I have to tell you that at first I couldn't remember where this center photo was taken or the context of the photo. However, as you can see above, the photo was originally taken in April of 2007 at Calvert Cliffs. It is a game I love to play with Tim... Guess what photo this is and then once I guess I do like to share a memory! In this particular case, until I saw this photo tonight, I completely forgot about Mattie's death grips around my neck when he hugged me. The beauty of receiving a gift from Tim, is that I get to see the physical beauty of Mattie and then I have someone who actually listens to my memories that these photographic creations evoke!
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