Thanksgiving Morning…here in the U.S.  

And I’m grateful, as usual.  But not just today.

Can I encourage you to be in touch with anyone who pops into your heart today?

Here is why.

Four years ago today we celebrated the day with family in the Bronx.  My in-laws.  It was wonderful.  We live in New Jersey so as we left for home, we laughed at a comment my Mother made on the phone.  

She said – “why don’t you stop here on your way home?”

We chuckled because from the Bronx, Brooklyn is NOT on the way to NJ!

But my heart was touched by the request.  I had just followed my heart days before when I spent a day with my Mom, enjoying her lunch, visiting two brand new great grand daughters and generally having a day of fun and laughter.

It took some effort to make that happen because with a full life in NJ, getting to Brooklyn had become a real challenge – especially for a whole work day.

So maybe I was spoiled with the treat. 

I asked my husband to make the detour to go see my mom.  It was late, we were tired – and oh so full, but he, as usual, followed his heart.

We stopped at my sister’s house where my Mom and other family were gathered.  She looked uncharacteristically tired.

We stayed  a short while and  as it was so late, my Mameta (as I called her) decided to leave with us to get a ride home; Though we had to convince her to NOT walk home.  What a feisty 81 year old!

We drove her home and as I watched her walk up the steps, bags in hand – our son helping with the bags, it occurred to me how different the scene looked.  She was weaker looking; Older looking.  

I had watched her walk up those steps countless times, it never made me cry before.

That night, by the time I got to the stop sign, I was muttering to Chris “mommy is getting old” with eyes of tears.

That was the last time I saw my Mameta before her stroke.  She made her transition weeks later; she never  came back to her former self.  Our planned Christmas family celebration was a wake instead.

That visit  which stared as a fleeting thought, was my last.

I am so grateful today and every day I think about how I spent those last days with my Mameta.  I followed my spirit, that inkling of a sense that something should be done, even if you don’t know why or how.

Our last full day together, eating, laughing and visiting new babies is a memory that warms my heart whenever I get sad. Going to see her that Thanksgiving night was the best decision we ever made.

Here's my plea: Call, reach out, visit, and be in touch with anyone who enters your heart today.   Be the love you seek for yourself.

If there’s something blocking the way, release it.  

Forgive yourself, the person, God…whoever and whatever needs to be dropped, drop it.

We have NO IDEA of the timing.  Tomorrow you may no longer have the opportunity to visit, call, reach out or be in touch. Or to say "I'm sorry" or to say "I forgive you."

Give yourself this gift today. Give love.

My heart is full right now, with love and hope that each of you who made a decision to read this tribute, will spread love in your circle and by doing that, help me in honoring my mother.  She was love in action. Maria Hernandez Logan.  

Please help me keep her and LOVE alive.

With Love and gratitude
Julette
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