After a long, hard year for my mom, she passed beautifully and peacefully at the age of 96, while her children sang her the lullabies that she had sung to us, so many years ago.
It was incredible to see her take her last breath. Not unlike the first breath of life, in its miracle.
After she passed, I crawled into bed with her and held her until the funeral home came to take her away. No longer worried about hurting her frail, tired body, I will never forget how it felt to hold her, and breath her in and feel her still warm heart, until I could no longer.
After she passed, I crawled into bed with her and held her until the funeral home came to take her away. No longer worried about hurting her frail, tired body, I will never forget how it felt to hold her, and breath her in and feel her still warm heart, until I could no longer.
Mama, I know how much you wanted to live to be a hundred.
I’m glad you didn’t though as this past year had times of being so very hard for both of us.
But there in the darkness however,
lived some of the sweetest moments I’ve ever had with you.
Thank you for moving here six years ago.
At 90-years-old you arrived with zest and optimism for the next chapter in your life.
And I got to know you, not through the eyes of a rebellious teenager or a tired working mother, but as an empty nester myself.
It’s as though we had our own little honeymoon.
During which, I realized how similar we are. I’ve had moments of not knowing where you leave off -and I begin.
I will be forever grateful for your easy-going-ness and for your ability to see life through this kaleidoscope of kindness
and gratitude
and love
and beauty.
I will be forever grateful for our friendship and how you made me feel like I was the best thing since sliced bread,
when I am not always.
I could tell you anything.
Thank you for demonstrating such good self-care.
And for reminding me of how important it is to take time out for ourselves.
Thank you for telling me that after a good nights sleep, that things almost always look better in the morning.
Thank you for teaching me, by example, not to gossip.
Thank you for teaching me how to swim and how to knit.
I’m so very grateful that later in life, you discovered the artist in yourself.
Thank you for being the most nurturing, open minded and liberal Mom on the block.
But most importantly, for always loving all of us, just as we are and for who we are.
Mama, I will love you and carry you with me, forever.
And I will miss, from this day forward, not to ever be able to give you another Eskimo kiss again.
