Hi Julieann, I was twenty when my Mom died, and I think what a blessing you not only have known your Mom as a child but also as an adult. I never got that. I would have liked to known her as my friend also as I am sure you know your Mom as your friend. I think letting go is never easy no matter what the age. My prayers are with you and your Mom and I will tell you this , life does go on maybe not the way we want but it can still be good. I have told my kids stories of their Grannyannie for years and now I tell them to my Grandkids. It is amazing how evan though she has been gone for 35 years now she is still a big part of my family. My Mom passed away on my sons first birthday , he was her last grandchild.I always talked to him about her , now here is the strange part, when he was five I found him standing in the kitchen in the dark at one in the morning . When I asked him what he was doing he told me , talking to Grannyannie and then he pointed to a spot and said shes right there. I cannot explain it but I am grateful that her life lives on in our memories and she will always be in our lives. Rocky