Sad Week

I try to keep this blog sewing related; this past week was a tough one and I had no desire or energy to think or do anything sewing related.

I am a senior vice president with a nonprofit agency with several individuals reporting directly to me. I have never experienced the death of a direct report before and hope that I don't again.

My administrative assistant came to work for me 5 years ago replacing my previous person who retired. During the past President's day holiday weekend she suffered a heart attack and had to undergo bypass surgery.  I talked with her off and on after this procedure with my last conversation being that she was excited to go home this past Monday.  We talked about her recovery and her desire to come back and work half days until the doctor released her full time.  She promised to call when she returned home.

The call never came and on Tuesday AM, her husband and son came to my office to tell me she did not make it and passed away that morning.  He and I had talked a lot during the week of her surgery and after. So he wanted to tell me in person instead of by phone.  I know that was hard for him and his son but they felt a phone call was too impersonal.  They wanted to express to me how much she loved working at our agency and I assured them that all of us in our suite loved and cared about her. She will be truly missed by a lot of people.  The pain of this loss went both ways.

This loss not only impacted me but the numerous people who work in my business segment.  It was a week of mourning and loss to many of us.  She was in short in statue yet very tall in her capacity to help others with numerous acts of compassion and caring.  We brought in a grief counselor to help us all and on Friday one of my staff put together a memorial service in which to honor her and help us all obtain some closure.

I share this because writing about it has proven to be helpful and allows me to mourn and move on.
I share this also because she was only 59; some of her issues were genetic.  Some were due to not so great eating habits and lack of exercise; which is making me focus on my eating habits that are not too good and my off and on exercise routine.

Take care of yourselves, eat healthy, exercise and enjoy each day.  Life can be too short.