LIVE LIFE TODAY

The word LIFE and LIVE have many meanings, you can either do it to the fullest and positiveness or the opposite.   The question people may ask themselves at one point in their life is " What is the meaning of life?".  Our life was probably mapped out before we were even born, by none other than the creator "God" or not.  Rich or poor.  Celebrity or a regular Joe.  When i hear the advertisements out there promoting "Say YES to question 2!" it churns my stomach and i want to vomit.  Really assisted suicide? Alright maybe a lot of people have not been through as much tragedy as I have in my life to realize this.  Life is too short.  Live it to the fullest ~ even if you got only 6 months to live, make the best of it.  I know it's not what you would like to hear me say but believe me, suicide is not the way out. It hurts not only the soul of the sick person, but others who are left behind.  My inner intuitive voice says NO on Question 2.  For many reasons.  I know seeing your loved one die right in front of you from a terrible disease or cancer sucks and you may say "why God?, its not fair".  If you have not been in this unfortunate scenario, thank the heavens; but those who have seen it like me - its hard, but it is what it is.  I watched my mom die, I was there for her, I held her hand and gave her medication to keep her comfortable.  She had many family and friends come to visit and had the opportunity to say farewell.  She was surrounded by love. Not alone.  While mom and I waited for her soul to depart her body, before her last few breaths; I held her left hand and then God took her right hand at 2am one early April morning.  To put it bluntly, we all have lessons in life to learn.  Some people have an easy ride out and some have many curves and bumps to encounter.  I have a few good examples of what lessons i had to endure.  I not only lost my mom, but my only brother and sister.  Kathy died suddenly December 1 one sunny afternoon, driving home from Kittery Maine, she decided to do early Christmas shopping.  She went with a few of her best friends.  She saved their life.  It was a head on collision, a man in a pick up truck went over the medium strip and hit her.  The sad twist to this story is for about 20 years i was under the impression the man had a heart attack.  He died and his wife was in a coma for two years.  My sister, Kathy saved her friends life, by turning the wheel to the right, she was a hero to her friends.  Her two friends were seriously hurt, but lived.  Over the summer one of her friends approached me, the one who sat in the front seat.  Took me completely off guard and said "Ellen didn't you know the man wanted to kill himself and did it.  Taking Kathy with him".  Why? No regard to human life at all.  After his wife woke up out of coma she said they were fighting and wanted to end it all that day December 1st.  My loving, kind and awesome sister.  She was my BFF Best Friend Forever! She was a sunshine soul she was my only sister, who truly loved me.  Many years later, my brother ended his life because of his own emotional troubles, drugs and depression got him in the end.  He ended it.  He thought he was doing us a favor by killing himself. My mom was battling an aggressive form of breast cancer.  Her breast was removed, chemotherapy and radiation on and off for years.  Then losing another child. Leaving me with no siblings, only occasional dream about our childhood together or if i look at a family photo album.  Memories.  I try and remember the happy ones, not the depressive ones.  My sister sunshine aura made everyone happy and she had many friends.  Every time I listen to Rod Stewart's "Forever Young" it says Kathy all over it.  She will always be my 'forever young best friend'.  So a week or so before my mom died she decided to let me come to her oncology appointment.  Too much pride.  She never showed she was in pain or suffering, not that kind of woman.  We were both actually shocked when her doctor said right out "Ellie you only have a week or two to live, I am sorry".  We were stunned.  Later that day sitting in the back yard of my parents home, lilacs and tulips all around, it was a nice warm day.  She had her first hospice visit in the garden.  Surrounded by the colorful beauty and the robins singing "its spring, be happy".  A step by step guide on what to expect.  To communicate and settle any thing that need be before she passes to the next eternal life.  Being a devote catholic my mom wanted to have the parish priest come and give the last rights. We were all there: her sister, me, son in law, grandchildren and my dad. We all said a prayer and then there were tears, laughter and memories....this is the way ...God's way sometimes its not what we want, but its the life roles sometimes. You got to take the good with the bad sometimes.  Each death has a reason, lesson and most importantly life is always in God's hands.  He has his reasons and someday we will know.  No rush to find out, because life is way too short. The Question 2 commercials and the promotion of it really hits me hard.  I understand people do not want to see their loved one suffer but its not the way nature has planned for us.  We need to have faith and hope...most importantly be able to say good bye and let nature take its course. Peace.