Marie

It is still difficult to believe that Marie, my mother-in-law, is gone from this Earth. She died in the early morning hours of December 26th.

Marie was a wonderful mother-in-law. I treasured our relationship. She was always there for me and always had good advice...but only when I asked for it. I told her that I wanted to be to Matt and Julie the kind of mother-in-law she was to me. 

Marie was really smart, but even more than that, she was wise. 

As good as my relationship with Marie was, it became even richer and more meaningful in the last month of her life. It was a privilege to spend time with her and Bill, my father-in-law. She was so appreciative of all that anyone did for her. And to watch Bill's devotion and love for his wife of 62 years was a profound example of a loving marriage for Sally and Matt and Wayne and Julie and me and Jack as well. 

I think we are all still surprised that Marie is gone. When we left the hospital on Christmas night, not one of us expected to get that call at 4 am. As our friend Chuck said, Marie "let Christmas be Christmas and seized the day for her own mortality". 

That was just like my mother-in-law. 

I miss her already.

Epcot, around '99.