If you've read this blog for a while, or perhaps read my old 100 Things post, then you probably know that both of my parents passed away from cancer many years ago. My mum died at the age of 55 when I was 21, and it's amazing to me to think that she would be 77 years old now. Today.
Wow. Aside from the frailty that came from the latter stages of her cancer illness, the image I have of my mother is fixed in middle age. To think of her as elderly is a mind shift I can't quite make. She was 34 when I was born, the last of the three kids. So she was in her forties for much of the childhood I remember. A short, busty, friendly, popular woman. One who negotiated the relationship with my rather taciturn father with quite a bit of patience, pursed lips sometimes and the rare cathartic plate smash. (She kept a small stack of old crockery under the kitchen sink just for that purpose.) She loved Sean Connery's 'James Bond', English comedies and action movies, and when she found something funny would laugh in a high whooping laugh that still makes me smile to think of it.
We were good mates she and I, and if we ever fought we always ended it by agreeing that we were friends again. Happy Birthday mum, I miss you.
11 comments:
And every bit of her goodness is carried forth by you, Andrew.
Here's to Mum's b-day! And to your sweet remembrance shared here today.
Thanks MG, that's really sweet. ::mwah!::
It will be the 27th anniversary of my mum's death on Sunday week. How did that happen? I miss her lots too - she was 66 when she died suddenly, so not very old either. Her death was the worst shock I've ever had. I'll never forget the moment I heard.
God bless her (and you too)
Bless you Andrew; if only more people had the same respect and love for their families as is evident with yours, the world would be a much nicer place.
xxx
Peace and love to you and your mum!
(There is no doubt that she is quite proud of you!)
That's a really lovely pen-portrait. It shows that the people we love live on in a very real way in our memories. I'm amused by your Mum's stash of crockery for throwing. My flatmate and I had a collection of throwing mugs for the same purpose!
A very heart-warming post. Can I ask what kind of cancer(s) took your parents?
You're a good son, and an honor to the mother you so obviously cherished.
Thanks everyone for the sweet comments! You guys are nice people, you know that?
Anonymous, mum was breast cancer primary/lung secondary and my dad was melanoma primary/liver secondary.
A great tribute
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