Jerry, as Pogo said, "Life ain't noways permanent." So all we can do is do what we can in the impermanence we have left. If that's making music and a joyous sound unto, great! If it's building houses or cleaning drains or just being who you are, great!

The ancient Egyptians believed that you would be judged by three gods, and your fate depended upon...well, they weighed the good in your heart against a feather. If the good was heavier, you were In Like Flynn. If, on the other hand, the feather tipped the scales it was the darkness. Consider how many people, then and today, would be outweighed by a feather...and then consider the parable of the pharisee and the publican in the Temple, or the story of the widow's mite.

Somehow I can't believe that your mother, or any decent mother, would go spinning down into perdition. Nope, she'll be there waiting, a big plate of your favorite cookies in hand.

Enjoy her while you got her. Mine's been gone a quarter century now...and we miss her terribly.