When is it ever the Right time?

The evening of the burial

So you hear people talk about the "right time" when it refers to getting married, having kids, moving into a new job etc.... How can you ever say its the "right time"... to die.

My mother in law, the mother of my husband, the grandmother to my children, (and so many other things to so many other people) died close to midnight on December 27, 2012. She was young. She was vibrant. She was faithful. She was loved.

She was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer in April of 2012. This came as a huge surprise to everyone in her life. She was very aware of health and she was the picture of well-being. For years, she took great strides to not only nurture her being with what was good, but to educate and encourage others as well.

We were in MN for one month in July. She was a bit tired, but otherwise herself. She celebrated Lucy & Stella's 2nd birthday and gifted to them (and us), two beautiful handmade dresses, not to mention her presence.

We couldn't get back until December. We arrived on December 10th and stayed through the month until early January. Karin was on oxygen 24/7 by this point, but so welcoming, lively, and joyous...  She was enjoying foods that she had bypassed for so long, and she was talking, talking, talking. There was an overwhelming number of people that were present in their home at all hours to provide support, laughter, a shoulder to cry on, and just a presence of love.. that was undeniably powerful.

On December 21, Karin stopped eating and drinking and was not responding much. Everyone thought this was it. Bob, Dave, and Paul (along with amazing friends Colin and Tina) were in the familiar Sheridan haven for 80+ hours straight, waiting. We somehow convinced Bob to leave for a bit on Dec. 24th to celebrate his birthday for a short time, but he quickly returned. Dave stayed with me and the girls on the night of the 24th so he could wake up on Christmas morning with his little girls.

Christmas morning was a little different this year. Our little Treiber family was with Grandma, Grandpa, and Uncle Treiber- but they were all sleeping and we were just there, with our energy, our presence, while they got their much needed rest.

Not too much later, Karin rallied and surprised us all when she decided to wake up, have some grapefruit juice, and hit the kamode.

Karin was a very organized woman. She knew what she wanted; she had plans for how this would go down. Her plans were to wait until Dave, Lucy, Stella & I got into town. Her plans were to wait until her devoted husband celebrated his birthday. Her plans were to wait until after Christmas; her plans were to go not too long after Christmas so that Dave and our troupe would still be in town.

She passed late in the night on December 27- after everything above was accomplished- and even after my family completed our traditional Christmas German dinner and gift exchange that same evening.

A week or so later, we had the services. The wake was extremely well-attended. It was a packed house at St. Olaf Church the following day..

Karin- you have touched so many people during your time with us; may your spirit continue to inspire  all of us to think outside of ourselves in life and in love.