sharing your survivor story

It was a speech in Canton, Ohio and during the induction into the Pro-Football Hall of Fame when a retired Detroit Lion player talked about loss. No not a loss to another team or in the Super Bowl or a loss of skills that brought about an early retirement.

But this person spoke of the loss that is forever, a loss of a parent. This former player spoke of a loss that never went away. He told of watching other players mouth the words "hi mom" into the TV camera after making a great play or when the camera featured them. Words this person had never been able to say because his mom had died when he was two. There was no mom to say hi to.

And so this man on this day, on this momentous occasion, uttered those words, "hi mom" because he was sure that she was looking down on him.

And, since my mom died when I was four, I too want to say, "hi mom".