“To heal we must remember.” Joe Biden

 

 

Wise words from our President elect on the eve of his 2021 inauguration, paying tribute to the then, 400,000 U.S. victims of the coronavirus. 

Today, on Terri Luanna’s 9th deathiversary, many of us will heed President Biden’s advice, creating space to remember our beloved Graceful Woman Warrior.

But never in a million years did I think that space would literally include President Biden…

It all started when my daughter Jamie texted me this flyer:

Since Papai was traveling for work, I’d already scheduled dinner with Miss M, Terri’s BFF’s Moe and Amy, and their kiddos for Terri’s deathiversary. So my first reaction was, no way can I do both.

Awakening that night at 3:30 thanks to a hot flash (yes I still get them at 66 years old!), I couldn’t get back to sleep. After several hours of tossing and turning, I felt Terri nudging me to reconsider. Those of you who knew and loved our girl know she was a genius at making the impossible possible. And she LOVED James Taylor – how could she not coming from our family – James’ music filled our living rooms every time we gathered. She was also an ardent political activist and I know she would support Joe Biden to ensure our democracy and its tenets would be upheld as I do.

Miss M had to be at dance by 6 so if somebody else dropped her off I could do both, right? I’d just be a tad late for the concert.

By the next morning my daughter, Erin, was on board, tickets were purchased, and I felt the veil between my world and Terri’s thin.

Fast forward to last night when I received the location and details for the Boston concert: 

Event Time: Doors will open at 4:30 PM and close at 6:30 PM.  If you arrive after 6:30 PM, we cannot guarantee entry. 

WTF!! 

After much self-recrimination, I bowed to the intractable truth – I couldn’t do both. Wracking my brain and beseeching Terri to give me a sign, I reached out to my companions in grief and found a way through.  

My daughter, Jamie, openheartedly agreed to take my place at dinner. My niece, Lauren, agreed to babysit my grandson so I could pick up Miss M from school and wrap my arms around her, and Terri’s BFF’s did what they have done since the day Terri died – they showed up for Miss M.

“To heal we must remember.”

We are and we will always remember you, Terri Luanna ❤️