Celebrating Life!

The day after vacation, I went to Columbus for a Celebration of Life.   This celebration was for someone I had only met once!   I met her at a funeral, she was the mother of a friend.  In that one meeting, we talked and laughed and I felt like we had known each other for a long time!

This person, Vicky, was bigger than life!   She had suffered from cancer for a very short time and chose not to have treatment knowing that the results would not give her much more time…she wanted to live during her last days/weeks/months, not struggle with the side affects of the nasty treatments.  I'd like to think we could all make these end of life decisions.
(saving that for another blog post!!)

And so she did…she was put into Hospice care shortly after she was diagnosed.   People were in and out of her room to visit…family, friends, and even OSU football players.   She was a huge fan and they knew it!   

Sadly, she was taken from everyone too soon.   She was cremated and with out of town family, the celebration was scheduled for a couple of weeks later.   Her family planned a wonderful Celebration of Life and I was privileged to witness it on Saturday.

It was a party at an intimate restaurant in the Worthington, Ohio area.   There were pictures on easels, large picture frames on the tables with "Glamour Shot" type of photos and a video that had a variety of pictures from Vicky’s entire life.   In this video were family and friends and her personality showed through with each frame.  You've got to love a grandma named Abba!  

Of course, there was food and drink, music and visitors from her childhood, her adult children and teenage grandchildren, in-laws and extended family, an ex-husband, and ex-son-in-law and friends from all areas of life.   The room was noisy with lots of chatter about Vicky and people asking “how did you know Vicky?” throughout the room.   I only knew a few people, but I felt like I had been one of Vicky’s friends (which she would probably say I was!).  

There was a beautiful floral arrangement from her manicurist!   Really???  This was awesome!   Obviously, she touched many.   Vicky was in love with life!  She was a spiffy dresser, glammed out at all times with false eyelashes, designer tennis shoes, and manicured nails!   The word used to describe her was FABULOUS and she wanted everyone else to be fabulous too!   From what I heard, that was Vicky’s second favorite F word!!  LOL!!

Vicky’s favorite cake was WHITE CAKE WITH WHITE ICING!   Yes, there was a 2-tiered sparkly white cake for Vicky!   I can tell you that Vicky always ate dessert first!!  

Before serving cake, Vicky’s daughter, son, and daughter-in-law spoke to the crowd, sharing stories, which brought laughs and tears.   They then invited the guests to share their memories.  One by one, friends stepped up to speak from the heart.   The theme was consistent…Vicky loved life!

We should all be like Vicky…enjoying life to the max!   I would love to be admired and celebrated like Vicky!  There was so much love and laughter in the room…you couldn’t help but feel like she was with us.

This week, as my summer break comes to an end, I’m going to keep Vicky’s philosophy of being FABULOUS in my heart!  Trying to stay positive and love this life that I have been given will be my goals.    I can’t compete with her, but I can try to make her proud!  

Thank you, Vicky, for reminding me of the good that I have!!   I will be forever grateful that our paths crossed!    Repeat after me…I AM FABULOUS!!!

UPDATE:   Sunday's blog will be posted later in the day!   Don't worry, there will be one...just posting late due to a commitment earlier in the day!