This past week was a tumultuous time. On Christmas Eve my mother became ill and had to be taken to the emergency room, was admitted that evening then ended up in the ICU overnight. The minutes turned into hours, hours into days then the days smeared into nothingness. Time became irrelevant. Time was measured in each moment. Moments that consisted of pondering all the catastrophic possibilities. Moments the didn't move. These moments became a tremendous lesson in time. I struggled while watching all the suffering around with all the shoulda, couldas and wouldas. You know, what should be different, what could have been or what would have been with different choices. But those are not for me to challenge. Our choices are our own. My choices have not always been the best choices, but they are mine and have shaped me into the person that I am. Good, bad or ugly, we are in this life to the bitter or bittersweet end....the choice is ours. ...