was busy today putting away Christmas decorations and cleaning the house…

I also talked with a friend about some of my experiences since George died, and how that was the reason I began to blog – so that I could share some of the things that happened to me… and hopefully save someone else from going through unnecessary problems…

I was reminded of my preparations for my cancer and hernia surgery… making sure that the insurance money that came to me was in an easy-to-get-at place in case I didn’t survive the operation… having a new will, power of attorney, and health directive prepared, and getting all my papers in order in case my kids needed to sort out my stuff…

we had thought that all of our information was in one place and that we were prepared should something happen to one of us, but I realized quickly that we weren’t… it took me ages to find George’s handwritten will, and then the Credit Union made noises about how they might not accept it… of course they did, once it went to their legal department… I think the young people in the office hadn’t ever seen a handwritten will before…

remember…

I remember how, for many weeks following my diagnosis, I wasn’t able to get my head past the surgery, and expected to die on the table…  it was really only a week or so before the actual hospitalization that I began to imagine that I would survive the surgery and move on with my life…

I was reminded how quickly the actual insurance companies responded, once I completed their documentation, but how long some of the other organizations took, including CPP to accept the claim and send the appropriate funds…

some days it feels like that was years ago, and other days, like it was just yesterday…

I have suggested to all my friends that they have the conversations with their loved ones about where all the necessary information is, what each person would like regarding organ, skin, eye donations, funeral wishes, etc. sooner, rather than later…

knowing that information makes walking through the necessary steps when someone dies much easier…

give someone you love a big hug today… you never know when you will be able to give them another one…