Reassurance

I was talking to my boss's client Mrs. C who is one of my favorite person that I see at the salon. When the radio started playing Carrie Underwood's "I told you so" - Mrs. L asked me if I knew who sings the song. I told her it's Carrie Underwood. She said she liked the song because it sort of reminded her of her oldest daughter's wedding. Then she told me her youngest daughter Miss C (who is also my boss' client) danced with her father (Mrs. L's husband) at her sister's wedding because he wouldn't be able to dance with her when her time to get married.

"I Told You So"


I was kind of puzzled while I was listening to Mrs. C's story because I honestly thought that her husband was still alive. I've known her for the past 8 months since I started working at the salon. She told me before she moved to a bigger house before Christmas and she often talks about going to vacations to different places. Therefore I totally assumed that he is stil alive...

As it turned out, Mrs. C's husband passed away a year ago from pancreatic cancer. He left Mrs. L, two daughters and two sons. She told me how wonderful her husband was to her; she met him when she was only 21 and he was her best friend. He was a great father to their kids as well.

So back to the weddng story. When Mrs. C's oldest daughter got married, Mr. C was already diagnosed with cancer and he didn't have much time to live. Knowing that Mr. C wouldn't be there to walk his youngest daughter down on the aisle for her wedding, the family decided that it would be best Mr. C and Miss. C to share "Father & Daughter's Dance" at Miss. C's sister's wedding. When I heard that story, I couldn't help, but cry... It was so beautiful and yet so painful...

Mrs. C started to find a song on her iPhone and when she found the song, she played it for me. "Maki, this is the song... I am not a big fan of country music, but oh, I can still remember that day. Everybody was crying because you know....we all knew he wasn't going to be there for my baby daughter. It was such a bittersweet moment. Beautiful, but sad. I am okay now, but I used to cry every day and night. It was really hard for all of us to lose him.. My kids don't have a father now...."

"My Little Girl"


She said she and her family did a walk for pancreatic cancer a few weeks ago, now she starts to see the difference in her kids. She said the kids (age 30, 28, 25 & 23) were trying to be strong for their mom, but now it's been a year and she is doing better, the kids are realizing that their father is gone. They are going through some grieving time right now. My heart totally breaks for her and her family.

I did a post about the movie, "P.S. I Love You..." - it was a story about the widow's journey to overcome her sorrow and find meaning to her life after her husband's death. I realize now that what happens in that movie happens to people like Mrs. L and it repeats itself everyday. It's for real.

But I felt fortunate to be able to share the intimate story with Mrs. L. It was not easy for her to talk about her husband's death, but I think she's finally able to look back and smile... When she checked out, she held my hand and said, "I wish no one goes through the pain I'd gone through, losing a husband.." - and I could only smiled... Because I know that nothing is sure and permanent. God only knows....