Lost and Gone Forever!

Grieving the loss of my tour company's general manager, friend and colleague, Fred who died after and accident, I got the news while touring.

Mom's Passing

I've taken a short hiatus from Los Angeles and the tour routine last month to be with my mother after she was taken to the hospital intensive care unit. My family summoned me stressing the urgency based on the doctors assessment of her condition. We took turns staying with mom as she was moved up to a hospital bed until she progressed to an improved status and was able to transfer to a care center with the possibility of going back home to stay with my sister Maggie. Despite the uncertainty of her condition, I returned to LA feeling better for spending cherished time with her. Unfortunately on October 1st, I got the call that she had passed away!
I returned back to the Gulf Coast to be with my family where we mourned together, having a beautiful service at the church where mom had frequented on Sundays and holidays, located in Biloxi, Mississippi. The plane ride back was so difficult, thinking I'll never see my mother again! As the plane jostled through the bad weather turbulence, a scared little girl seated behind me repeatedly cried mama, mama, mamaaa...I cried with her but not openly, and kept it bottled up inside me till I got home.
Returning to work and having to look and talk cheerful with the tourists was difficult at first, although the people were with me to have a good time, and as mom would have wanted for me, go out and lead the groups and have fun with it...
The last few days have been extraordinary, as if mama was with me in spirit! I've had some really good days as a tourguide since returning last week...thanks mom!