My Truly Beautiful Mum,
There have been many times that I have just thought to myself, “I think I’ll ring Mum” – and then catch that thought as it is quickly followed by the remembrance that I can’t ring you, or chat anymore. A sadness follows, but I’ve determined to replace the sadness with a gratefulness and a smile, because I am so very thankful for every remembrance of you and the knowledge that I had you in my life for 60 years (and not everyone can say that, can they Mum!).
I wrote a little memory just after you died, but it wasn’t really much at all, just a lasting legacy of marriage counselling that you gave, all those years ago. I’m sure you practiced all you preached!!
Because I didn’t live near you for so many years our lives together were not really the ‘every day’, but usually the special, set apart times. So I know that I always saw and had the best of you! For that I am very grateful because you had the best of me too!
We did lots of super things together, like when we holidayed together spending a week in B&Bs in England, then we adventured to the Greek Islands for another week with memories too funny and convoluted to share, but which the mention of one word would send us both into fits of giggles as it reminded us of our ‘challenges’.
Some years later I was so privileged to go to Africa with you and we safari-ed and enjoyed the magnificence of nature in the wild-life of Kenya; and the magnificent Victoria Falls were thunderously close as we were ‘upgraded’ to quite the poshest hotel imaginable, with our personal Butler and all!, and wild zebras and giraffes were strolling through the gardens. I hadn’t known that you wanted to ride on an elephant before that!
India bought both excitement, and sometimes just a little distress, to our shared holiday experiences and you taught me so very much, yet again, as I spoke of in my thoughts of you at your funeral. We had lots of fun, and the memory of you sliding off the camel heading into the Pakistani desert will never cease to bring a smile – though I have often since wondered what would’ve happening if you had actually fallen off!! You were right – no-one there would’ve helped us! What a pickle that would’ve been!!
We saw Israel together, which was a special pleasure as you and Dad shared the land which you had grown to love and enjoy and it was there that we met some special people, who were to become dear friends, Leora and Eleazor. A friendship which seems more of a destiny than a chance.
Over the latest years, we enjoyed countless visits from you Mum, here in Brisbane, where I picked you up at the airport on Monday afternoon, and had two perfectly sweet and lovely evenings and one whole day with you. We saw everything I could think of within a drive of my place and so now wherever I go, I remember visiting with you.And whoever would believe that Carindale shops could now be such a sentimental favourite!
I could cry buckets at losing you Mum, but that wouldn’t do any good would it! Or I can give thanks for the many, many times we happily and contentedly shared together; the multitudes of things you taught me; and the knowledge that, because of and in Jesus, Yeshua our Saviour, we will meet again.
I recently made a little list of some of the small but helpful things you taught me:
1. Always add a packet of soup to a casserole
2. Wash whites, coloured and towels separately
3. Cut your cake or slice in half so you don’t need a second piece (“You’ve already had two!”)
4. Fertilise in spring
5. Wipe your shower screen after every shower
6. Show an interest by asking questions
7. Pronounce your consonants
8. Don’t say bum, belly, grab, guts or chuck
9. You don’t need meat AND cheese in a sandwich
10. Hang out your wet towels after your shower (this should be with (5)
11. Shopping is fun
12. Accessorize +++
13. People are more interesting than artifacts
14. Be especially kind to people with disabilities
15. Don’t keep pretty things for best
16. Daddy loves to buy lunch
17. Self praise is no praise
18. Tell the truth
19. Country music is the best because it has a proper melody, harmony, and rhythm
20. Religion is not nice, but a life committed to and with Jesus in it is much more precious than gold
21. Your mum is the only person who will always tell you the truth, because she loves you the most!
Maybe I’ll write again Mum, (I hope I will - I'm sure to have forgotten some things) but I think I wanted to say that I’d love to see you, I'd really, really love to see you, but it’s okay not to. It’s okay because I have you in my minds eye always, your words come quickly to my lips and my heart is truly blessed because of the love we shared. I know I look like you, but my desire is that I might be just a little more like the 'best' you as the days go by!
See you later Mum.
Rosie xxx