My beloved Mum June Rose passed away on Friday 27th May after a very short battle with cancer. I was by her side as I had promised her I would be and I have to say it was the worst day of my life. My Mum was my best friend and I miss her so much. Her funeral took place on June 9th, the day after what would have been her 75th birthday. The weather put on a show for her big day and the sun shone brightly making the long journey from my parents' home near Rothbury down to the crematorium on the coast at Whitley Bay a little bit more bearable. The Northumbrian countryside was at it's best for her last journey. We had a humanist service which was lovely and I'm sure it was Mum willing me on and giving me the strength to read out a poem for her.
Afterwards we kept up a family tradition which I'm sure Mum would have loved and approved of. We went for fish & chips at Tynemouth. Mum loved to take the grandchildren on "chip safaris". The nearest fish & chip shop to the cottage is in Rothbury, 10 miles away so a long detour was always taken to spot and count pheasants, rabbits and the like before visiting the chip shop and then followed a sit down by the River Coquet whilst the feast was devoured. Happy days.
It's been 3 weeks now and I'm still numb. I keep wanting to phone her and tell her about my day and then I remember that she's not there. The photograph is of Mum taken when she was 17. It's one I remember seeing quite a few times when I was a little girl. She was quite a stunner don't you think. I do believe in guardian angels and I'm sure that Mum is perched on my shoulder watching over me now.
I love you Mum xxxx
I am wiping my eyes as I read your post Lynda and tears are running down my face as I write this comment. It is such a hard time and it brought back memories of when my twin sister died. It is twelve years since she passed away but still feels like yesterday.
ReplyDeleteSending you lots of big hugs.
Love
Susy
l'm sorry to hear about your mum passing away, l agree with you about her being your best friend and its not easy to accept that you will not see her again but your memories will keep you going and l love the photo of her when she was 17 she is such a stunner too! how nice to carry on the tradition having fish & chips sound like a beautiful place to take the family after the service, and l'm sure your mum was there in spirit looking down on you all and smelling those lovely fish & chips, keep that chin up and remember she will be around you at all times.......:) Sandra H
ReplyDeleteYes, Lynda, watching my dear Dad pass away from cancer two years ago was also dreadful. And yet...knowing he has the peace of eternal sleep and no pain is what gets me through each day.
ReplyDeleteYou never get over grief but you do learn to live with it. You travel alongside your memories and, every so often, you meet each other at a crossroads. Here you face the memory, it makes you shudder and weep. Then you brace yourself to continue the journey of life that your parent - your mother, my father - gave you.
Their only wish is for us to enjoy our lives and, one day, you will realise that joy is creeping back in again. Even the Fish & Chip tradition was a form of joy.
You don't have to feel joyous for it to be true.
Yes, we do have Guardian angels and the gift of prayer is what sees me through.