The Curse of February 15

Bad things tend to happen on February 15.  Usually related to events of The Day Before, aka "Valentine's Day."

On year, it was on February 15 when I discovered, via the grapevine, that My One True Love had given an expensive piece of jewelry to someone for Valentine's Day and that someone was Not Me.  Which is how I found out that My One True Love was a lying, cheating Rat Bastard.

It was another February 15 when I woke up after a wonderful Valentine's celebration the night before with my long-time boyfriend to discover he had flown the coop in the middle of the night, although he did take the gentlemanly step of leaving a "Dear Jane" letter on the pillow.

So, every year, I have to wonder/worry about something Bad happening on February 15.

This year has been no exception.  

This morning, my mother-in-law died after a 10 year battle with Alzheimer's.  A battle in which Alzheimer's robbed her of her dignity and turned her into the equivalent of an adult-size infant, an infant who could be out the door and halfway down the street the moment your back was turned.

Instead of mourning her death, we're going to try to remember the person she once was, before that bastard known as the Alzheimer's became such a dickhead and we're celebrating that she is finally Free.