As I poured the "less than filling" protein shake into a glass to fill my grumbling tummy; I shook my head at the nerve of the scale weighing me in a pound heavier this morning. My legs ached, my back was so sore I could barely stretch and even my feet needed some major TLC after running 5 miles yesterday. AND I GAINED A POUND! I was seriously feeling sorry for myself as I yelled at my phone for buzzing me an email.
I needed something to distract me from the buttery english muffin that I was considering so I picked up my phone and read the notification that awaited me. "The General's Wife's Rememberance" was the title of the message that interrupted the pity party I was about to have for myself. I knew the news too well since I'd heard about it days before. The wife of a soldier or should I say the wife of one of the Army's best soldiers; a General. I'd thought of her days before when I'd heard this terrible news. I'd pictured her standing at her husbands side at events not really understanding the traditions of the Army but knowing her place very well. But as I continued to read; I learned more about her than I'd ever imagined.
"The daughter of a retired soldier" she was raised a military brat; and of course I had to think of my own little red headed girl that is growing up much the same way. "She served her country for 21 years"and I had to sigh as I realized she was but a warrior herself. Shortly after she was married and was a giving military wife and mother for 27 years. I could see her now this beautiful soul that I'd never known but my eyes now cried for. A daughter, a wife, a mother, and a soldier that served her country for 21 years herself and then another 27 by her husbands side.
She will be remembered for her warm smile, soothing voice, soft and accepting heart and infectious state of happiness. "Infectious state of happiness" I thought to myself as I stood there pondering the many things that should have me in this state right at this very moment. I continued to read about the wonderful 4 children she'd raised and the unselfish way she continued to give to her country. And then I read of her last 15 months here and the special bonds that she developed with cancer survivors as she fought to survive herself.
Beautiful and Gracefully she walked through the doors of Walter Reed Hospital handing out copies of Dr. Michael S. Barry's book, "A reason for Hope". Once again fighting to help others while never losing her beautiful soul. And just when I thought this rare gem of a woman could give no more to those that she's left behind; she asked for donations in lieu of flowers to help with the continued fight against cancer. I suppose a flower would do little justice to a woman of this magnitude anyway so they will hardly be missed. Unlike this angel that God sent here for 49 years to spread her wings and now fly away.
Once again I am reminded that Angels do live among us. We sometimes miss them until they are gone because they make such a small fuss when they are here. But when they are gone, their message is still left behind; and we forever have an angel we have never met lingering in our mind.
"A reason for hope" is what this angel wished to give ...
A reason for us to smile to laugh and to just want to live...
A reason to be grateful though the days are sometimes tough...
A reason to believe that there will always be enough...
A reason to know that Angels really do exist...
For what else could explain a woman as rare as this?
That even in her last days when she shouldn't have been able to cope...
She wanted nothing more than to give us "A reason to hope"...
In honor of Barbara Corrinne Inch, the angel that lived among us from October 1st, 1962 to February 1st 2012.
