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About Sue Part 1
Sue was going to die.
At 78 years old, this was far from news to her.
The last 8 years she spent meticulously planning each interaction with her family to inspire nothing but joy and memories.
Her one wish, that the end of her life would be remembered in a pale but lasting light.
Exactly two weeks ago Sue’s life above ground was snipped abruptly too short.
It only took two phone calls.
The first was the bank telling her, her late husband, and love of her life’s Social security and life insurance conveniently washed up, exactly two days apart from each other. Leaving her fresh out of a reliable income.
The second phone call was a peppy sounding insurance representative calling to inform her that the cost of her heart medication had almost tripled in cost due to popular demand.
Sue is tired.
Sue is old.
Her bones creak and ache upon standing. Her hands are thin and frail from a lifetime of hard work and decay.
After the second phone call with the peppy insurance representative, ending with, “I hope this phone call and my service was satisfying to your needs.”
She spent a lot of time staring at her hands.
Sue had more than done her part in this life. She raised a bright, hard working man. Who as a bullheaded boy had to be beat lovingly, into a sweet and humble human being. Ever the challenge he proved to be, Sue could never be more proud of the man he grew into.
She raised a daughter, who from her exit of the womb deemed herself a free spirit.
Always fussing, insatiably curious, and never understanding why things wouldn't be how her five year old mind thought it should be. But as she grew her curiosity evolved into wit, her fussing into a drive for life, and her stubbornness her branded mark of independence.
Sue was confident she had paved a decent example for her children to excel as parents. No, they never had the latest and greatest but she could rest easy knowing her legacy and teachings will live on.
She loved a hard working man that never strayed. He had worked all hours of the day to keep the mold off their evening bread. He may not have been there for every emotional development of their children's lives, He left that to Sue. He did however make sure his family never had to be without clothes, food and warmth. He proved to be not just a suitable partner, which is all Sue’s parents ever wished for her, being considered homely in her face, but a wonderful husband and ultimately her best friend. His passing over ten years ago now, was the second hardest thing she had ever had to endure. Picturing him in heaven. Sue sighed softly happy she would reunite with him soon.
Sue taught her children proper manners though easing away from the strict hand her parents raised her with. Her children knew how to be humble in the eyes of the Lord. She worked every odd job she could get in her prime. Making up any loose ends financially as life progressed. When her son Dennis needed expensive textbooks for his college classes, when her daughter Jenna worked so hard all year in school at a chance to study abroad for a semester, or when her husband broke his leg on the job and went without work for almost a month, Sue worked, always making sure they never had to say they missed out, or worst went without.
Sue stared at her hands. At all the lines, creases, blue protruding veins, and the small scars. Remembering every diaper, spanking, hug, and loving caress that she had given and received.
Ultimately her life had been a good one. A short hard life but a good life nonetheless.
Mid December was here and Sue knew she must choose.
She looked around her home the walls decorated excessively with family photos past and present. Kodiak perfect memories all frozen in time. Reflecting Sues abundance of love for her family and the full life she had lived.
She had enough money to buy another month of medication, but not enough for her next mortgage payment.
She could declare bankruptcy. But what would be the point? Sues tired, old and ready for rest, and on top of it all, Christmas was almost here...
Two days before christmas Sue mustered the energy to call a cab. Embarking on her inevitable last trip to the mall thoughts of her family and her past weaving an intricate tapestry in her mind.
The sounds of bustling people so engrossed in what last minute gifts were forgotten would normally have overwhelmed slow moving Sue, but this day was different. The threatening stampede of stressed shoppers nor the questionably odd wafting smells of the food court was going to discourage Sue this day.
She finds herself in a memorabilia shop.
A silver picture frame silhouetting a baby angel to one side and a blank space designed for a picture worth keeping on the other. Sue bought two. One for her daughter and one for her son. Their childhood pictures of the family all together already...
At 78 years old, this was far from news to her.
The last 8 years she spent meticulously planning each interaction with her family to inspire nothing but joy and memories.
Her one wish, that the end of her life would be remembered in a pale but lasting light.
Exactly two weeks ago Sue’s life above ground was snipped abruptly too short.
It only took two phone calls.
The first was the bank telling her, her late husband, and love of her life’s Social security and life insurance conveniently washed up, exactly two days apart from each other. Leaving her fresh out of a reliable income.
The second phone call was a peppy sounding insurance representative calling to inform her that the cost of her heart medication had almost tripled in cost due to popular demand.
Sue is tired.
Sue is old.
Her bones creak and ache upon standing. Her hands are thin and frail from a lifetime of hard work and decay.
After the second phone call with the peppy insurance representative, ending with, “I hope this phone call and my service was satisfying to your needs.”
She spent a lot of time staring at her hands.
Sue had more than done her part in this life. She raised a bright, hard working man. Who as a bullheaded boy had to be beat lovingly, into a sweet and humble human being. Ever the challenge he proved to be, Sue could never be more proud of the man he grew into.
She raised a daughter, who from her exit of the womb deemed herself a free spirit.
Always fussing, insatiably curious, and never understanding why things wouldn't be how her five year old mind thought it should be. But as she grew her curiosity evolved into wit, her fussing into a drive for life, and her stubbornness her branded mark of independence.
Sue was confident she had paved a decent example for her children to excel as parents. No, they never had the latest and greatest but she could rest easy knowing her legacy and teachings will live on.
She loved a hard working man that never strayed. He had worked all hours of the day to keep the mold off their evening bread. He may not have been there for every emotional development of their children's lives, He left that to Sue. He did however make sure his family never had to be without clothes, food and warmth. He proved to be not just a suitable partner, which is all Sue’s parents ever wished for her, being considered homely in her face, but a wonderful husband and ultimately her best friend. His passing over ten years ago now, was the second hardest thing she had ever had to endure. Picturing him in heaven. Sue sighed softly happy she would reunite with him soon.
Sue taught her children proper manners though easing away from the strict hand her parents raised her with. Her children knew how to be humble in the eyes of the Lord. She worked every odd job she could get in her prime. Making up any loose ends financially as life progressed. When her son Dennis needed expensive textbooks for his college classes, when her daughter Jenna worked so hard all year in school at a chance to study abroad for a semester, or when her husband broke his leg on the job and went without work for almost a month, Sue worked, always making sure they never had to say they missed out, or worst went without.
Sue stared at her hands. At all the lines, creases, blue protruding veins, and the small scars. Remembering every diaper, spanking, hug, and loving caress that she had given and received.
Ultimately her life had been a good one. A short hard life but a good life nonetheless.
Mid December was here and Sue knew she must choose.
She looked around her home the walls decorated excessively with family photos past and present. Kodiak perfect memories all frozen in time. Reflecting Sues abundance of love for her family and the full life she had lived.
She had enough money to buy another month of medication, but not enough for her next mortgage payment.
She could declare bankruptcy. But what would be the point? Sues tired, old and ready for rest, and on top of it all, Christmas was almost here...
Two days before christmas Sue mustered the energy to call a cab. Embarking on her inevitable last trip to the mall thoughts of her family and her past weaving an intricate tapestry in her mind.
The sounds of bustling people so engrossed in what last minute gifts were forgotten would normally have overwhelmed slow moving Sue, but this day was different. The threatening stampede of stressed shoppers nor the questionably odd wafting smells of the food court was going to discourage Sue this day.
She finds herself in a memorabilia shop.
A silver picture frame silhouetting a baby angel to one side and a blank space designed for a picture worth keeping on the other. Sue bought two. One for her daughter and one for her son. Their childhood pictures of the family all together already...
