Mama called tonight. She's leaving in the morning on a band trip. A high school band, that is. She doesn't have any kids in the band any more, but she's still going.
She raised enough money for them that they gave her a free pass.
She'll be 65 this year, and that woman gets around more than I do. Even though Josh graduated last Spring and she lost any direct connection with the band, she's still involved. Working football games and competitions, raising money and doing what she can.
When Daddy was alive and able to, they did all that stuff together. And if he were still here, I have no doubt that he'd be on that bus tomorrow morning. She'll go without him, but I doubt it will be the same.
She stays busy. She has her band stuff and her church stuff and her just trying to sort things out stuff.
This week, she's a groupie/den-mother/grandmother to a bunch of high school kids. They all call her "Granny", because that's what Josh always calls her. And they called Daddy "Pa" for the same reason.
They were much more actively involved raising Josh and Morgan than with me and my two sisters. But when we were young, they were both always working, sleeping or taking care of day-to-day issues. There wasn't time for much else.
After they retired, they had the chance to do more, and they did.
Now that Daddy's gone, Mama tries to keep her life busy and full. It's easier not to remember how much you hurt when you're taking care of other things.
At this point, I'm not sure she really looks forward to the life ahead of her. It's a very lonely one right now.
I'm glad she's keeping herself busy and surrounded by people who need her. Having people need you helps dispel the loneliness.
It's the best therapy for heartache that I know.
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