4th of July

It's 5:10am. Happy 4th of July. I'm sure I've written a post about this before but this holiday always has a downside for me.
On this day 31 years ago mom took a turn for the worse. She slipped into a coma and never came out. Slowly her body started to shut down. The hospice nurse told us everything that was going to happen to her such as her kidneys shutting down, she started having the labored breathing etc. I remember so vividly all of her siblings coming over to say goodbye. Each one leaving her room in tears, knowing that was the last time they would see her alive.
On July 6th, 1981 we lost our beautiful mother. I remember wondering what I was going to do without her. How could my life go on without her to call, go shopping with, go to lunch with etc. ?
I know I was robbed of her at such a young age and so were my children.
So on this 4th I'm working a 12 hour shift with no other holiday plans. I will miss having our kids over or going to the Stadium of Fire and feel bad that Rog is by his self. But it is what it is.
I'm so thankful for our freedoms in this beautiful country. I'm thankful for our men and women who serve us by protecting us.
Happy 4th of July.