World Turned Upside-down
Well, I debated a bit whether to include this entry into the blog… most of the people who actually read this blog already know the news, either through e-mail, or I have talked to them directly…
For continuities sake I will explain that we had to return to the states for several weeks on Emergency Leave. My Mom passed away while undergoing treatment for esophageal cancer. It was very sudden and unexpected. In hindsight, maybe it should not have been so unexpected…it is a very nasty variety of cancer… but while being supportive and hopeful, it is easy to fall into the trap that things really aren’t that bad.
It made for a pretty terrible reason to head back home for a few weeks… not only did we have to deal with a certain amount of reverse culture shock, but also a family and home that had been drastically altered. I’m pretty sure I didn’t deal with things all that well. I pretty much hunkered down for much of the time. Still it was important to be there, it forced me to face my denial… I kept expecting to see mom for much of the time that I was there…
Anyway, I’ll find other cathartic methods outside of this blog, so I’m not going to say much more here on this subject. I do want to thank everyone for their support! It was amazing how many people I heard from… made me feel good and sad at the same time. I also want to pass on how great the Peace Corps responded to this whole incident. I definitely felt like part of a big family here in El Salvador, as well as from all of the folks in the Washington office who had to get involved. They all made it easier to deal with a bad situation.
For continuities sake I will explain that we had to return to the states for several weeks on Emergency Leave. My Mom passed away while undergoing treatment for esophageal cancer. It was very sudden and unexpected. In hindsight, maybe it should not have been so unexpected…it is a very nasty variety of cancer… but while being supportive and hopeful, it is easy to fall into the trap that things really aren’t that bad.
It made for a pretty terrible reason to head back home for a few weeks… not only did we have to deal with a certain amount of reverse culture shock, but also a family and home that had been drastically altered. I’m pretty sure I didn’t deal with things all that well. I pretty much hunkered down for much of the time. Still it was important to be there, it forced me to face my denial… I kept expecting to see mom for much of the time that I was there…
Anyway, I’ll find other cathartic methods outside of this blog, so I’m not going to say much more here on this subject. I do want to thank everyone for their support! It was amazing how many people I heard from… made me feel good and sad at the same time. I also want to pass on how great the Peace Corps responded to this whole incident. I definitely felt like part of a big family here in El Salvador, as well as from all of the folks in the Washington office who had to get involved. They all made it easier to deal with a bad situation.
posted by Jon & Katie | 12:25 PM
2 Comments:
I'm sorry to hear about the loss of your mother. Even though I have not met her personally, I know that you are probably a reflection of all that she was.
I can only imagine what you and your family are going through.
Take care and God Bless...
Fidel, Jessica and Brian
So very sorry to hear about the loss of your Mother. I too lost my Mother a few years ago and it is the worse loss in the world. You hit it on the head when you said world turned upside down, b/c that is exactly what happens. I just hope you too are taking care of each other.
Love ya,
Leah
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