Feb. 16, 2001: A Day I Will Never Forget

Most people in relationships look forward to Feb. 14 — Valentines Day. However, two days after Feb. 14, the 16th arrives, and that is a day I will never forget.

Feb. 16, 2001 was the day my mom was killed in a car accident on her way down to Florida. She passed away instantly.

At the time, I had a newborn baby and was 23 years old and had been newly married. I couldn't imagine life with out my mom, she was supposed to be there and help me raise my children and she looked forward to having grandchildren, her life was her family and she loved all of us.

As time passed I was told it would get easier but by no means did it get easier. Every time I would step out into public, I would see other mothers with their children and grandchildren and that was not an easy task for me to have to overcome. At the time, I didn't understand why she was taken from us. She was only 47. Why did this happen to our family? And most of all what will happen next?

The thought of just never knowing was a little scary in itself. Moving on was the last thing I could do and it took about 8 years to do so. Things I didn't know how to do I had to learn or relearn over.

Ten years has passed, and I am definitely not the girl I used to be. I am now a woman, raising two kids. If only my mother knew my son, she would be proud of how far he has come, and though she met my daughter for a total of five weeks she would be proud of her as well.