United in our Grief Forum.

Thank you so much, Winnie! You have brought out another aspect of my grief. Mom had Alzheimer's Disease. It was difficult to communicate with her during those last years of her life.

Shortly after Mom died, tucknits remarked that she was concerned about my mental state due to the "upbeat nature" of my posts. However, as I think back upon those days I seem to recall that my grief was mixed with the relief that Mom was finally herself again. I bear a burden of loss, but Mom has the blessing of such gain as never before in life.

I am learning to balance the Joy over my parent's new Blessed Life with the need to respect my sadness that they are no longer in my life in this present state.

I agree. Grieving must go on for the maintenance of my own mental health and out of respect for both my dearly departed parents.

After Dad passed away 15 years ago now someone tried to encourage me with the words, "Give it a couple of years. You'll get over it." Even then I thought, "I'm not sure I want to get over it."

The depths of grief in their loss matches the heights of love in the togetherness we once knew.