Todd Edgel
Mama Kay I love you and will miss you dearly! I am so glad for all the time we got to spend together (especially once you forgot all the naughty stuff I did as a child sometime in your 80s ; > )
I’ll never forget our last conversation...
You called me to share some sadness and dark thoughts about the confusion and disorientation you were feeling. You couldn’t shake the feeling you were forgetting things or letting people down. I told you it wasn’t your job to stress about that anymore because we carry the memories of how you showed up for us and taught each of your children everything we needed to know to to serve others and to be good friends to each other. I reminded you that each of your children were thriving and living good lives full of joy.
Your tone of voice immediately changed and you said “Oh good! Well thank you so much for sharing that and for cheering me right up. I just love you so much son.”
You lost the ability to use your phone independently just a few days later, and we never spoke again (until I told you “I love you” over a speakerphone Heather held up for me on your last night before you left us for the great beyond).
The memory of your hard work, inclusiveness, sharp wit, and kind laughter lives on in me as well as my brothers, sisters, your grandchildren, your great-grandchildren, and the countless people you added to your “family” and welcomed into your home.
Your definition of “family” was so broad that I must freely admit I had to shake my head sometimes at the people who had the audacity to take advantage of that loose and inclusive definition! But at the end of the day, you taught me that you cant take advantage of a person who gives of themself freely, joyfully, and with zero expectation of any “return on investment”. You taught me and many others about joy in giving/serving.
Really gonna miss you calling just to check on me Mom!
P.S. One last thing. Thank you for teaching me (and my entire Boy Scout troop that you led for several months in the absence of a male scout leader) how to hand sew! Saved me a bundle on a canvas soft top vinyl window replacement for my car just this last month!