I wonder if other mothers feel a tug at their insides, watching their children grow up into the people they themselves wanted so badly to be.

I think we deserve a happily-ever-after." "If anyone ever did, it's us.

But will you miss me? More importantly - will I miss you? Does either one of us really want to hear the answer to that question?

Life was what happened when all the what-ifs didn't.

Tradionally, parents made decisions for a child, because presumably they are looking out for his or her best interests. But if they are blinded, instead, by the best interests of another one of their children, the system breaks down.

There are all sorts of losses people suffer - from the small to the large. You can lose your keys, your glasses, your virginity. You can lose your head, you can lose your heart, you can lose your mind. You can relinquish your home to move into assisted living, or have a child move overseas, or see a spouse vanish into dementia. Loss is more than just death, and grief is the gray shape-shifter of emotion.

I have the most devoted and loyal following. I could probably type up my grocery list and they'd all want to read it. I love that they're willing to let me go wherever I need to go as an author, and they're happy to come along for the ride as the reader.