"But you were a school teacher!"
"That was much later. When Doug was killed, I kept doing what I was doing until I finally came to my senses, spent his insurance money on tuition and went to college and became a teacher."
"And then you met Dad."
"And his beautiful, precious daughter and wonderful son." Karen didn't even disagree and we spent the rest of the trip happily discussing the visit to my mother, our upcoming camping trip, games we played, my sister and her family and all the joyous things of my new and wonderful life. I couldn't have been more exhilarated as we skipped into our house where my husband and son waited. That is, until Paul met me at the door.
"Your sister tried to call you," he said. "Your mother passed away this afternoon."