Jan 21: A look at love

Today I received some pretty intense news. My step-mother, who has had some serious health problems that have drastically intensified over the past year, passed away Friday night. My parents split up when I was very young and my dad remarried my step-mother, Karen. I'm grateful I was so young that I don't remember it. I didn't have to go through dealing with a divorce and any resentment of my father remarrying. Karen has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. She was not only a wonderful step-mother, but a great woman. I will always remember her as sincerely kind. Very artistic. Passionate for animals. Growing up, they always had dogs, cats, birds, goats, horses, chickens, reptiles, just to name a few. :) Most of all, I will always remember the love that her and my dad always shared. Their love was devoted, unconditional and ever lasting. I can only hope to have that kind of love for as long as they had. My heart goes out to my brother, Tyler, who has devoted his life to caring for his mother so selflessly. In his words, "she's taken care of me for the last 20+ years. It's the least I can do." I can't describe how much I respect that guy. To my sister, who is recently engaged. I can't imagine the emotions that will play out while planning her wedding. Her most important day and missing one the most important people in her life. I'm grateful that her mother got to see her so happy and in love. Had the chance to meet her future son-in-law and know that he daughter will be loved for a lifetime. And to my dad, thanks for showing me what it means to love your wife, in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, for better or worse.