10.) Giving time to someone is always a better gift than something we unwrap; relationships strengthen and improve from time put in to them; gifts collect dust, get old, get tossed...

Evident in the closet was her meticulous order, her cleanliness, and her taste and style.  Standing inside, I could smell the light scent of her brand of detergent, and her favorite perfume; Red Door.  All tops and pants hung by hues of color and were placed a certain distance apart.  My stomach turned over several times over a couple of hours when I pushed down the urge to burst out in tears. I clenched her trinkets in my hand and hugged a bathrobe and one of her shirts she often wore; I guess hoping to feel her.  A clips-reel of memories played continuously as I pictured her; remembering the times and places where she wore each piece of her clothing.  I found a stylish, slightly old, softly used pocketbook that was carefully wrapped in tissue; I am left wondering why she felt compelled to take extra care of that one since she had so many others.  Some of her size seven shoes were worn; yet none were worn out.  Many more pairs were never worn at all; to me these were reminders of her long incapacitation.  I am left numb by what we like, care for, hold on to, desire and need in life --and how it is all simply divvied up or discarded when we go.  I'm so happy I helped her while she was here and it made her smile.