Don't worry mom, you will never be forgotten
I came back to work this week.......back to teaching, meeting with students, engaging with the passions I have in our community. I got back at it. I know mom wouldn't want it any other way.
But, I have to say it, out loud, you will not be forgotten mom; never.
I see this happen when people die. Everyone gets back to living and we don't hear about the person who died anymore. I think it is normal and expected, but, with this person being my mother, it causes me to worry that she will be forgotten. She will not.
I picked up mom's ashes this week. They fit in the urn her husband John made for her like they were meant to be there. None of us had any clue as too if they would fit or not, but, what we did know, is the urn John made was beautiful. John remembered mom saying she didn't think she would fit. Mom, you fit perfectly! I mean perfectly, like it was meant to be I guess. Mom, you will not be forgotten.
In the last week I have been thinking of all the places I can take mom to now that she wasn't able to go to because of her health. The one place I am taking her to is the top of the ridge. We had wanted to try to do this before she passed, but, it just couldn't happen. Now, I can take her. Mom is going up the ridge! Mom, you will not be forgotten.
John is making urns for each of us kids and mom's twin brother Gary. Mini versions of moms main urn that I am certain will be just as beautiful. Each of us have mom in our homes forever. Having a place to remember mom. Opportunities, if we choose, to take mom with us on our life's adventures; where ever each of us might go. Mom, you will not be forgotten.
This week I was listening to new music. I do this because I like to find new artists that I might like. As I was listening a song started I had never heard before, but, is now a song I will play anytime I want to think of mom. The song, No Matter What, by Calum Scott, instantly makes me think of mom. Mom, you will not be forgotten.
Our family stories are many. This evening I am giving a talk surrounding the theme "Get Your S**t Together" within the PechaKucha format of presentations. It's a first for me....this format. Yet, mom is with me. I am opening with a piece on my mother. A woman who spent her life doing all she could to provide for the four of us; her children. Mom, in many respects, was forced to have to get her s**t together and do all she could to put a roof over our heads, food on the table, and, give us some sense of normalcy. Who we all our today as individuals, is because of our mom. Mom, you will not be forgotten.
John, mom's husband, an amazing man, he is making mom and his place his own. While at first site it gave me some sadness...the change; but I get it 100%. And, I know mom would want him to make it his own. In one of our conversations about the changes he was going to make, John said the words. John said "I want to keep her style"; he said I am going to change things, move furniture, make it my own now, but, he couldn't have said more beautiful words to honor his wife; I want to keep her style. Mom, you will not be forgotten.
I am keeping in touch with my siblings. Checking in with them and seeing how they are doing. I was on my walk to campus this past Monday, a time when I would call mom. Instead I sent a message to one of my siblings. Seeing how they are doing, letting them know I love them. Mom and Cheri would talk every day. I find myself reaching out to her once a day now. Mom, you will not be forgotten.
But, I have to say it, out loud, you will not be forgotten mom; never.
I see this happen when people die. Everyone gets back to living and we don't hear about the person who died anymore. I think it is normal and expected, but, with this person being my mother, it causes me to worry that she will be forgotten. She will not.
I picked up mom's ashes this week. They fit in the urn her husband John made for her like they were meant to be there. None of us had any clue as too if they would fit or not, but, what we did know, is the urn John made was beautiful. John remembered mom saying she didn't think she would fit. Mom, you fit perfectly! I mean perfectly, like it was meant to be I guess. Mom, you will not be forgotten.
In the last week I have been thinking of all the places I can take mom to now that she wasn't able to go to because of her health. The one place I am taking her to is the top of the ridge. We had wanted to try to do this before she passed, but, it just couldn't happen. Now, I can take her. Mom is going up the ridge! Mom, you will not be forgotten.
John is making urns for each of us kids and mom's twin brother Gary. Mini versions of moms main urn that I am certain will be just as beautiful. Each of us have mom in our homes forever. Having a place to remember mom. Opportunities, if we choose, to take mom with us on our life's adventures; where ever each of us might go. Mom, you will not be forgotten.
This week I was listening to new music. I do this because I like to find new artists that I might like. As I was listening a song started I had never heard before, but, is now a song I will play anytime I want to think of mom. The song, No Matter What, by Calum Scott, instantly makes me think of mom. Mom, you will not be forgotten.
Our family stories are many. This evening I am giving a talk surrounding the theme "Get Your S**t Together" within the PechaKucha format of presentations. It's a first for me....this format. Yet, mom is with me. I am opening with a piece on my mother. A woman who spent her life doing all she could to provide for the four of us; her children. Mom, in many respects, was forced to have to get her s**t together and do all she could to put a roof over our heads, food on the table, and, give us some sense of normalcy. Who we all our today as individuals, is because of our mom. Mom, you will not be forgotten.
John, mom's husband, an amazing man, he is making mom and his place his own. While at first site it gave me some sadness...the change; but I get it 100%. And, I know mom would want him to make it his own. In one of our conversations about the changes he was going to make, John said the words. John said "I want to keep her style"; he said I am going to change things, move furniture, make it my own now, but, he couldn't have said more beautiful words to honor his wife; I want to keep her style. Mom, you will not be forgotten.
I am keeping in touch with my siblings. Checking in with them and seeing how they are doing. I was on my walk to campus this past Monday, a time when I would call mom. Instead I sent a message to one of my siblings. Seeing how they are doing, letting them know I love them. Mom and Cheri would talk every day. I find myself reaching out to her once a day now. Mom, you will not be forgotten.
Beautiful as your usual
ReplyDeleteMy love always