13 Comments
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Mariel Weinand's avatar

SO beautifully written. Thank you for sharing. xx

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Cat Chen's avatar

Thank you for reading, Mariel! Sending you love <3

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Ashley La Fleur's avatar

I had just turned 24 when my dad lost his nearly five year battle with lung cancer. It’s been 13 years and while I don’t think it necessarily gets better, the grief changes over time. In the moments when you realize so much has happened since then. For me, it is a profound sadness that he never met my husband, but that’s just how my life turned out. The anniversary is always hard but not always the same for me. I hope you do what you need to do on the day to feel as much peace as you can. ♥️

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Cat Chen's avatar

Sending you so much love, Ashley <3

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Janelle Taylor's avatar

Thank you for your beautiful, heartbreaking words, Cat. So much of it resonated. Sending so much love to you. ❤️

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Cat Chen's avatar

Sending love to you, Janelle <3

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Megan White's avatar

You've brought me to tears yet again, my friend. Your experience and wisdom is a true gift to others.

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Cat Chen's avatar

Love you sis. Your kindness during her sickness gave me strength <3

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Brittany Bahlert's avatar

Cat, this is so beautifully written and captured. Your reality is my biggest fear and I’m actively trying to convert that fear into gratitude. You are so strong and your sweet mama would be so proud. ❤️ Keep on shining through it all.

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Cat Chen's avatar

Oh Brittany! Enjoy every moment <3 Sending you so much love.

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Sasha Mei's avatar

Beautifully written ❤️ your mama is so beautiful and seems like the most wonderful human.

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Cat Chen's avatar

Thank you for reading Sasha! She most certainly was :) <3

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yanik's avatar

Yo, thank you for sharing, this moved me. I’m so sorry you have to suffer her absence. In fact, it makes me sorry to know that we all have to suffer the absence of the people who we love deeply. In that way, your grief is my grief, and the grief of us all. Anyone who is lucky enough to stay alive long enough will be rewarded with the heartbreak of watching those who give life its sparkle, leave us.

The next time you are suffering, I hope you are able to remember this - your suffering is proof that what you had with your mom is beautiful, special, meaningful, and what made life worth and continues to make life worth participating in. When you grieve, you honor the magnitude of the imprint she left in your heart. From what I gather in the warm energy and sheer stylishness she exudes in these photos you’ve graciously shared, no doubt she left the same signature in the many hearts of the people she has touched along the way. And in the honesty and sensitivity of your writing, I see you doing the same.

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