Little Did She know

This is a painting depicting my feelings regarding the sudden loss of two of my sisters, Ginny and then Mae, one year apart (2014 and 2015). That was followed the next year by the loss of a nephew, who had once lived with me and my husband. Just three months after that my eldest brother passed away too. The first loss was a shock, as it must be the first time one loses a sibling. But the second loss, my sister Mae, was even more of a shock as she was only 59 years old and we had grown up together. I had a lot of guilt for neglecting her because she always had time for me. Even when she was in college and I was still in high school, she always included me in her outings and parties.
The last time I saw her was at one of our family Sunday lunches. As she was leaving it occurred to me that maybe I should hug her, but she had already started down the stairs so I let it go.
Things were complicated by the fact that I live in a different country than the rest of my family. I left the country on August 12 and Mae passed away on August 30, 2015. Of course I had to fly back as soon as I heard. I was not able to see her body as she had already been cremated.
Of seven siblings, there are four of us left. For a while there we would say goodbye to each other with the admonishment, “Don’t die.”

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