Hugs To Last A Year (and more)

 

This was one year ago today.

My mama’s nursing home was already on lockdown.

But Mama had an eye surgery scheduled

for two days after its lockdown.

We decided to go ahead with it

since we had no idea

when she would be able to have the surgery

if the whole world shut down.

I’m glad we did.

 For the sake of Mama’s eyesight.

 And because Mama got to spend one more day 
with one of her children.

Because of that surgery day, 

Mama was able to get a few more hugs 

that would end up needing to last her for a long time.

 I’m a very independent person. 

I’ve lived away from my mama 

since I was 18 years old 

and I moved away to attend college. 

I didn’t cry then.

But, on March 12, 2020, 

after the nursing home transport van pulled away 

with my mama in her wheelchair loaded securely in the back, 

I went back to my car and cried.

 I never told my mama that I cried and I still won’t. 

That will just make it worse for her.

 

She feels the absence of her family’s hugs deeply.

 She still talks about how much those last hugs mean to her.

It’s been a year now.

 A whole year.

 Hopefully, it won’t be much longer.