Personal Narrative: How Death Has Changed My Life

I am a 34 year old single mother of 2. My life has been good, but with all things there have been some challenges. In life everyone has to encounter challenges, they make us who we are and often times have say in who we will be. Life altering experiences do not have to be bad all the time it could be passing a test, the birth of your children or something simple as your dog getting out of the fence. However, for me it was death is the most life altering experience. In transition from childhood to adolescence for me the concept of death was there but not real. I know death is neither my friend nor enemy but if it has changed me for the better or worst has yet to be revealed . The journey of life through the closing of eyes is how I think of it. Death. To people it means many different things. Some people may not think anything of it, until it strikes close to them.
December 9, 2002, my mother was on her way to the doctor only for a routine doctor visit, as usually she got up early, ate breakfast as she would always do before visiting the doctor, she talked on the telephone until it was time to leave, she locked her front door, and proceeded to the car , as soon as she step off the front porch, she fell, within an instance she was dead. No health problems that we knew of. For me this was life altering because no matter who may come into your life no one can never replace your parents. I have a father, but she was my mother and father, I felt my all had been taken away from me in an instance. I asked myself, How could this happen ?