Memorializing Mom

Life turns on a dime.  I love the poem by Matthew Arnold, Dover Beach.  To paraphrase one line, the world has no certainty, life has no certainty.  None of us knows how long we have to live in this world.

My mother lost her battle last night, if we can call it a battle.  I suppose that's not very accurate a description.  I prefer to think of it as she let go of this thin thread we call life and moved on to a different place.  I hope it's a better place and a peaceful one.

As I'm making notes now to write something for her funeral, I've been listening to some songs from some of my favorite singer/songwriters.  Along with many of her beautiful songs, Beth Nielsen Chapman has one called No One Knows But You.  It's extremely sad, but also uplifting and says many of the things I'm thinking and feeling.  These lyrics:  "And if there is some magic, some way around these stars, some road that I can travel to get to where you are, I'll cry this empty canyon, an ocean full of tears, And I won't stop believing that your love is always near" gets to me every time.

I hope that I can find the right words when the time comes to stand before family and friends and describe what kind of woman my mother was and how much she meant to all of us.  I don't want to dwell on sickness and sadness; I want them to remember her sense of humor, her kindness, her intelligence, perseverance, sacrifices for her family and her love, her greatest gift.

 My mother taught me how to love, there's no doubt about that.  A priceless gift I'm happy to pass along to my kids and I hope they'll pass along to theirs.