I wish you enough

I am in a constant struggle to keep my email box organized. I am also battling with some bozo that decided MY email address would be a good one to use for every junk mail program in the world. As a result I am constantly coming across old emails from my mom. It's really like tearing off a band-aid most of the time. She and I would exchange emails sometimes 20 or 30 times a day. She lived in Creswell, OR and I live in Dallas. We would talk on the phone all the time too, but email was really her preferred stream of communication. Anyway I came across this one tonight. It's one that has been circulating for some time now, but of all the chain emails and stories this has always been my favorite and ironically it strikes so close to home right now.

I wish you enough!

Recently, I overheard a mother and daughter in their last moments together at the airport as the daughter's departure had been announced. Standing near the security gate, they hugged and the mother said, "I love you and I wish you enough."
The daughter replied, "Mom, our life together has been more than enough. Your love is all I ever needed. I wish you enough, too, Mom"

They kissed and the daughter left. The mother walked over to the window where I sat. Standing there, I could see she wanted and needed to cry. I tried not to intrude on her privacy but she welcomed me in by asking, "Did you ever say good-bye to someone knowing it
would be forever?"
"Yes, I have," I replied. "Forgive me for asking but why is this a forever good-bye?"
I am old and she lives so far away. I have challenges ahead and the reality is the next trip
back will be for my funeral," she said.
When you were saying good-bye, I heard you say, "I wish you enough." May I ask what that means?"
She began to smile. "That's a wish that has been handed down from other generations. My parents used to say it to everyone." She paused a moment and looked up as if trying to remember it in detail and she smiled even more.
"When we said 'I wish you enough' we were wanting the other person to have a life filled with just enough good things to sustain them".
Then turning toward me, she shared the following, reciting it from memory.
I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright.
I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more.
I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive.
I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear much bigger.
I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.
I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.
I wish you enough hellos to get you through the final good-bye.

She then began to cry and walked away. They say it takes a minute to find a special person, an hour to appreciate them, a day to love them, and an entire life to forget them.