My Mother had been suffering an illness for as long as I can remember. The following story is one of strength and never-ending perseverance.

Love, Determination, and a Sea Shell

My sister Ellen took my parents along with her to the Caribbean on a sailing trip. She and her husband, Dick, had liquidated almost all of their belongings to purchase a sailing yacht and pursue a lifelong dream...sailing in the Caribbean! My Mother enjoyed watching the dolphins in their playfulness dancing as they swam in front of the yacht as it cut the water. They discovered a quiet cove and moored the vessel, and Ellen, Dick and my Father ventured out into the bay and headed landward, wading as they went. My Mother stayed behind, since no one thought she would be strong enough to make it to land on her own, yards and yards away.

This proved to be too much for her, staying behind; the word "never" was not part of her vocabulary. So she clambered off of the yacht into the turquoise water and began to make her way to shore. Part of the way there, her breathing became increasingly labored, but this was a daily occurrence for her. Determined as she was, she focused on an object resting many, many yards toward shore on the bay floor. "What is that? I wonder what that could be?" she thought to herself. She kept her eye on it as she went one step at a time, pausing in an attempt to catch her breath, keeping a keen eye on that object. As she drew nearer she realized it was some sort of shell, and continued on her path to shore. Still several yards away, she could see it clearly. Making her way to it, she reached down in the water and plucked the conch shell from its' watery bed. She then walked the last few yards to shore, carrying her prize with her.

I did not fully realize the significance of the shell until many days after she had given it to me. I thought she had just picked it up and it had no further significance other than an addition to my shell collection. It stood on my headboard until one morning I woke up and grabbed for the shell. I realized there was more to the story, and then my other hand reached for the phone. It was during that phone call that she relayed this story to me, and I fully understood the importance and the meaning of her love.

This shell has more value to me than anything in my life ever has or ever will. My Mother passed away on August 20, 1996, and when I am in need of encouragement, missing her, or I am feeling sorry for myself and need a kick in the pants, I have only to pick up that shell.

.......in celebration of her life....her love, and her determination, this site is dedicated to Florence E. Hirschi, with love

Beach Photo courtesy of Ralph Pugliese, NY