Twice in the last few days someone who sees me every week has told me they’re concerned about me. It was time to come to terms with my sadness.

When we lose a loved one to death, we experience the year of “firsts”—first birthday, anniversary, Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas—without the loved one. But in my journey with Mom, “firsts” have come unexpectedly, at random times, over a four- or five-year period. 

I’ve struggled with four major issues as a long-distance caregiver while watching my mom’s condition deteriorate.