August 14 2002 – Daisy’s Birthday Gift
Today is my 57th birthday my first in 18 years without my little girl my sweet amazing Daisy.
She has been gone now 4 months 2 weeks and 6 days. They have been the longest days of the past 18 1/2 years. One would think it would get easier as the time passes but it doesn’t. Each day passes and the realization that she is gone only grows stronger.
Yet I have felt that she was with me. Today I know she is. My mother and I went shopping yesterday for a trip that we are now able to take because Daisy is not here. Had she still been with me I would not have left her to do this for my mom. It would not have been possible or fair to leave her for even a short time. A month or so after she left I realized it was time that I take my mom on a special vacation. She is 79 now and her time is getting shorter too. Even so I have felt guilty about it not truly feeling the joy a daughter who loves her mom very much should be feeling at getting some much needed together time with such a special lady.
Daisy loved my mom. In fact my mom saved her life. 4 1/2 years ago Daisy took a very bad fall. Weighing only 4 1/2 lbs. she hit the ground very hard. I was so shocked I couldn’t move I just looked at her lifeless body. My mom screamed at me “breath for her” so I did. I gave her CPR and after a few minutes she breathed on her own. It was a long pull back from that fall but she lived well and happy. Without my mom she would have died.
Today Daisy gave us both a gift. We were in a luggage store to get a piece of luggage. The store is just a luggage shop. While looking at the pieces mom was wandering around and I noticed her admiring a music box. At first I was a bit amused. 1500. pieces of luggage at least and mom is focused on a music box. Then I was a bit annoyed. Long story short there were 3 music boxes. Why in a luggage store who knows. Totally out of place.
45 minutes later I had found a piece of luggage;,I was getting ready to pay for it. All of sudden a thought went through my head why not buy my mom a gift to thank her for giving me life. I asked the clerk to quietly get the music box I had watched my mom admire and hide it until she was distracted. I paid for the luggage and the music box and we left.
Once in the car I gave my mom the music box. She opened it and it began to play the song that I selected for Daisy’s tribute the song that reflected my relationship with Daisy ” The Wind Beneath My Wings” mom began to cry. First from surprise and then the first words from her mouth were “that is Daisy’s song”. Neither of us knew that box played that song! Then we both cried. It was Daisy’s gift to us!
My mother never asks for anything. She has worked her whole life raised 6 children is a wonderful grandmother and loved Daisy dearly. She has always sacrificed for others. She too felt guilty that we were finally taking this trip. She hadn’t even picked out any luggage. And she had never heard the tune in the music box. She didn’t have her hearing aide turned up high enough.
We believe that this was Daisy’s way of telling us she wanted us to have a great time. This was her way of saying thank you. Her way of giving me a birthday present to share with my mom. Daisy was once again as in her whole life my little angel. Daisy was saying thank you to my mom.
Many people would believe that we are reading things into a situation. Some would think we are crazy. But through out Daisy’s 18 1/2 years on this earth she gave so many gifts and though she is not her to touch and hold she still continues today.
There are other things that have happened since she left that have made me feel she is still with me but none so clear as today. I know she knew we were both feeling guilty to be going without her. I know her love sent this gift to us.
We love her we miss her and now we will take this trip knowing she truly is still with us today and always.
Daisy we love you. You truly were and are amazing. Thank you! We will be together again one day. You will always be “The Wind Beneath My Wings”.
Love Mom and Grandma
You'll Always Be
| Daisy Slatterly |
| Susan Slatterly |