Mom's Work

A year ago my mom was given a job to work in the office for Congressman Jason Chaffetz.  My mom had very few jobs during my life and the few she had were all during my adult life.  Sometimes we feel that having Mom work full time the last nine months of her life was so we could get us used to not having her available for us all the time.  Anyway, Chaffetz office was across the street from the Target in Jordan Landing on 7800 S.  I knew where it was, but I didn't know the actual building or which suite it was in.  However, every time I drove past those business complexes I thought "I should swing in and say hi to Mom".  I probably would've if I knew exactly where it was, but never-the-less it was a constant prompting every time I drove by.  The first time I drove past the office after my mom died, my heart sank.  I started to get that thought as I always did "mom's right there, I should swing in and say hi".  Except this time she wasn't right there and I couldn't stop in and say 'hi'.  When I realized I never visited Mom at her work, and would never be able to, I cried.
However, last Wednesday I finally was able to visit my mom's office.  Aimee and I met the two Jennifers my mom worked with for lunch and then we went over to her office.  They showed us where she worked, the O.C.D. quirks that she had, and the positive stories of how she cared about everyone she worked with and talked to.  They loved her and  her loss hit them hard too.  They even have my mom's program from the funeral sitting in the office.  I was so happy to finally see her office, I was holding back tears the whole time.
Here I am sitting at the desk that used to be hers.  There are even sticky notes still up with her handwriting.

Not visiting her is one of my biggest regrets.  I'm mad that I didn't listen to that prompting every time I drove by.  But I'm happy I went and can picture what it would've been like to stop by when she was there.
Now my mom is doing a different kind of work.  I can't stop by and say "hi", but I know she is happy and busy and she wants me to be the same.