Slipped into eternity

My mother died last week, in her own home surrounded by her family. We were alerted by my stepfather that she only had a couple of days left and just like that, we set off for Georgia. What I believe now is that even though my mother had been seemingly unpresent in her own body for much of the last year, her spirit was aware. The last evening she was alive, I was still a couple of hours away and stuck in traffic on Lookout Mountain. Her respiration was down to nine breaths per minute and she didn't have long. Five minutes after I finally rushed through the door and to her bedside, she passed away. Five minutes. My mother waited on me, and I will always be grateful that she allowed me to tell her goodbye. Thanks to all my family and friends who supported me through those difficult days and since.