Uncle Mike

On Mother's Day, my baby sister graduated from the University of Illinois and we celebrated with our family, the Dills, down in Champaign, Illinois. Mike and Sharon have lived in Champaign for a long, long time and sort of "took care" of Mary while she was down there at school. Sharon is my dad's first cousin and they have two sons, Adam and Vince. So we all celebrated Mary's great accomplishment and Mike gave a great speech about how he appreciates never having to bail Mary out of jail and other cute stuff like that. It was the last time I got to see Mike alive.

One month later, on June 14, my father called me and gave me the devestating news that Mike had been having terrible migraines and had been diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor. He was given 3-4 months to live. How could this be happening? I had just seen the man on Mother's Day! One month ago! Matt and I sat in tears in the car after we hung up with my dad. We held each other's hand and vowed to never take each other for granted. To not fight about the stupid stuff anymore because life can turn on a dime.

Mike and his family headed up to Mayo Clinic and they weren't there long when Mike started to deteriorate, rapidly. The tumor was very aggressive and they brought him home where he passed away on Monday, July 23, 2007.

To lose someone so young (he was only 57) was very hard. But imagine how his wife feels. Their 35 year anniversary was to be this past Saturday. She lost her twin sister less than 5 years ago. It's not fair. That's all we kept saying at the wake and funeral. It is so not fair. Mike's mother has lost her husband, her twin brother, and now her oldest son...all within 2 years. How do you not curl up in a ball and beg for mercy? I have learned strength from these women.

Adam, Mike's oldest, gave a wonderful eulogy and it's something I'll never forget. I'll also never forget the sight of my father, lingering at the cemetary after the priest was done talking, silently weeping over the loss of his best friend. I truly don't know what I will do when my parents go. I hope to have just as many amazing people around me as Sharon and Adam and Vince did during this hard time.

We miss you Mike. We miss you every day and wish you hadn't been taken from us so soon.

Kiss your family as often as possible. Tell them you love them and mean it. Don't leave the house or go to bed angry. You just never know what tomorrow brings.

(from upper left, my dad, Jerry, Mike, Sharon, Donna, my mom)