My Beloved Carla
I remember when I first met Carla as if it were yesterday. I was 22, and she was a month shy of 20. Her radiant smile immediately rendered me defenceless. So did her good natured love of life and heart warming laughter. We spoke that night for about 20 minutes and to be perfectly honest, by the time we said good night, I was terrified beyond belief. I knew from that first moment that I had met the lady whom I would one day marry. I would eventually become the luckiest man in the world when that came true six years later.
From the first day that I met Carla, I can honestly say I never met anyone who didn’t love her. With a twinkle of an eye she instantly welcomed people, unlocked closed hearts, healed the hurt and warmed those who had grown cold with the trials of the world. Over the years, family and friends alike repeatedly told me how they loved Carla. I used to tease her that yes that was true, but that was because she was a nurse and not a lawyer. She would laugh but truth be told, Carla would have been loved no matter what she did in life. She was then, and always will be...a gift from God, and I was graced to have her as my wife, and the mother of our children.
We shared many wonderful times together since we met, but the best days of our lives were raising our beautiful children, Jessica, Michael and David. As devoted as a wife and nurse as Carla was, this all paled in comparison to her role as a mother. Carla was an exemplary parent - selfless, compassionate and eternally giving. Her greatest gift and legacy are the wonderful young adults that I call sons and daughter.
The last few years, Carla fought a courageous battle with breast cancer. During that time, she did not want the ugly reality of what she was facing to be revealed to anyone, particularly our children. This past Sunday was the worst day of my life, for we lost my beloved Carla.
Carla’s untimely passing is unfair. That was the word she and I uttered numerous times the past several months. So did family, friends, nurses and physicians. How could God take away a person as beautiful as Carla, and in such an untimely manner? None of this makes sense.
The only solace I have to offer is that Carla is no longer suffering, it is God’s will and in the true measure of life, Carla had a very rich time while among us. I have never measured wealth in terms of assets or income, nor success by the quantity of degrees or business achievements. Instead, I have always valued the lives of people by their capacity to help others and by making the world a better place. Carla did all of that. She was the richest most successful person I have ever met. The number of family members and friends who have reached out to us the past week confirms this. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
Rainbows and shooting stars do not last a long time, but they are treasures from God. Carla was exactly that...the rainbow in my life...our glorious gift from God. May her legacy remind us how to behave with others and how to properly lead a rich, successful life.
Rest in heaven my angel, and never forget...I love you Carla. My beloved.
~ Your loving husband, Gaetano.
