It’s been almost 5 years since my mum passed away.
She would have been 59 today and it still seems so young
and I guess it is.
It feels like last week when the police came to my work
place in Brisbane to tell me that my mum had died. It was my birthday, the 27th of
November, 2008. My whole world changed
at that point and I don’t think I realized just how much it would in the
ensuring years.
A lot has happened in the last 5 years. A LOT and none of it would have happened
without my mum. She worked hard all her
life as a single mother to make sure I had everything I needed, I never went
without anything. I had a great childhood-with
amazing memories and I could not have asked for a more caring, if not sometimes
possessive mother. But then, aren’t they
all. My mum was my BIGGEST
supporter. She worked 3 jobs when I was younger to put me through private
schooling and I didn’t want for a thing when I was a child. She taught me
the value of a dollar and gave me unconditional love. I have been lucky enough to have travelled this
magnificent world of ours, seen and been to all 7 continents, got divorced, got
inked (twice), found and lost love, moved to the African country of Kenya,
found love again and all of this is thanks to my mum. I tell people, it is very sad to lose someone
you love and a parent to boot, unexpectantly; it is a lot to take in. I hope I don’t sound callous, but death is a
fact of life. It happens to us all
eventually, and for me, to do something worthwhile with and in my life was what
I could do to hopefully make my mum proud and also make my life count while I
am on this planet.
There is nothing good that comes from the passing of a
loved one. But that is the Wheel of Life. All things must come to
an end and that includes the loss of people you love. It is how we pick
ourselves up and what we do with our own lives that will honour the memory of
them. My mum wanted to travel. Canada was always in her sights and
for all sorts of reasons just kept putting it off saying ‘she would do it next
year’. I think about her every day and what would she be thinking about
my life and where it is heading and I hope that she is proud. I would not
of had the opportunity to do this amazing journey without her, I would not be living
in Africa if not for her, I would not be given a chance to give back to a world
that has looked after me the last 2 years and I hope that ALL that combined has
made ME a better person and I know that it has changed my outlook on
life. I want to continue to be a better person and to be able to help
others in some form whatever that maybe and then my mums legacy lives on
through me. It’s a nice thought isn’t
it.
My Mum was an amazing
woman.
She was a character. Once she put her mind to something she was
determined and resolute. This is what
made her a great sports woman, a committed work college and my greatest council
in life. People have told me Mum always
saw me as her greatest achievement and like a lioness would have protected me
to the death. She was very proud of me and
my achievements.
My mum was an amazing
woman.
She worked hard all her
life to make sure I had every opportunity, from private schooling to overseas
representative sporting duties. I never missed out on
anything. To me Mum is Darwin and Darwin is Mum. Even though Newcastle has always
been home, she could never, after much talk ever leave the Territory. My fondest memories include hearing Elton
John, Barbara Streisand and Billy Joel always playing at home as a child. Mum had an infinity for all things gold and
sparkly. She would scrimp and save to get that dazzling bauble from Angus and
Coote and I am sure she was their best customer. I can clearly blame my own love of jewellery
squarely on her shoulders to which I am sure she is proud of.
My mum was an amazing
woman.
I remember her love of
walking. Whether it be walking into town to work or around the Nightcliff
waterfront, she would be pounding the pavement, head down bum up listening to
those same songs I recorded for her 10 years previously. .....and yes that would still be Elton, Babs
and Billy. Her taste in music never wavered.
I may not have spoken to my mum every day or every week, but I always
knew she would be there and I could pick up that phone and be able to hear her
voice. She will always be my mum. I take comfort that she and Grand-dad are now
together in Heaven and she will never be alone.
I miss you and I will always love you with all my heart.
There is not a day that I don’t think about her
and everything that she has done for me.
Even now, she has given me the courage and opportunity to think outside
my square, she gave me the amazing opportunity to travel the world and I have
found love again in Kenya. I have an
exciting new life ahead of me and none of this would have ever been achieved
without her. Like in life and in death she
has continued to look after me and for this I am forever grateful. I just hope that I am doing her proud and I will
continue to live each day to its full in memory of her and make the most of all
the opportunities that come my way. For
you mum. I LOVE you.
You
can shed tears that she is gone
or you can smile because she has lived.
You can close your eyes and pray that she’ll come back
or you can open your eyes and see all she’s left.
Your heart can be empty because you can’t see her
or you can be full of the love you shared.
You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday
or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday.
You can remember her and only that she’s gone
or you can cherish her memory and let it live on.
You can cry and close your mind,
be empty and turn your back
or you can do what she’d want:
smile, open your eyes, love and go on.
or you can smile because she has lived.
You can close your eyes and pray that she’ll come back
or you can open your eyes and see all she’s left.
Your heart can be empty because you can’t see her
or you can be full of the love you shared.
You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday
or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday.
You can remember her and only that she’s gone
or you can cherish her memory and let it live on.
You can cry and close your mind,
be empty and turn your back
or you can do what she’d want:
smile, open your eyes, love and go on.
You don’t know how much time you have left so you need to
make every second count.
The beauty about the future is it hasn’t happened yet and
it is a blank canvas to do with what you want.
MAKE IT COUNT and happy birthday Mum.
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