The Goat Pen

Damn, Dave , I am so sorry. I lost my mom to cancer 35 years ago and it's a terrible way to go. But, your parents never really leave you if they raised you

Thanks, guys…

Mom was adamant that she wanted no part of hospice. However…Mom was a hoarder. The state of her house made in-home care not an option. Once she entered hospice, she referred to her new surroundings as the “Taj Mahal”.

She was a child of the 60s, for sure. None of her 3 sons will ever know who their real father is. While pregnant with me, she married a young, scared soldier heading off to Vietnam, who wanted a son to have his name. After divorcing him in the early 70s, she never remarried. She was very independent, and proud of it.

Due to her hoarding, we never had family holidays at her house. In fact, I have not set foot inside her house in roughly 15 years (she bought the house in ‘08), and my youngest brother never has until the past month. My brother and I now have the pleasure of cleaning up a 4000 sq ft house, a 1500 sq ft condo, and 5 storage rooms (either 10x20 or 10x30) packed with crap. It will take us years.

Mom passed in solitude in the middle of the night while in hospice. Most likely the way she wanted. Dad was surrounded by the entire extended family when he passed. Being there is better in my mind.

Same here, 10+ years later..