Wednesday, April 09, 2014

Loss & Remembering

I was talking to a friend today and the topic came up on the loss of a loved one.  One thing that I was reminded of was how much I appreciate hearing other people's stories about my mom.  I'm having a harder and harder time imagining what she would say in certain situations, although her gift was definitely listening and empathisizing.  I'm starting to really forget her voice and laugh.  I have memories of her from pictures and my mind but there are only so many. Also, I only know her as a child, teenager, and young adult.  I don't know her as a fellow adult/mom so I wonder what conversations we would've had and the things that would come up.  I would just encourage you, that if you have a friend who has a lost of a loved one, and you remember something about that person, no matter how small, that you share it.

I wish she had seen the woman I had grown into because I was still changing so much.  I would love to have her listening ear so that I could tell her about all the ridiculous and awesome things our kids do.  She wasn't an advice giver (unless asked) and I really appreciate that.  It was such a wonderful gift in my life, growing up, to have someone who listened and empathised.  It's what I truly needed (and still do!).  I hope my kids know that I am here for them with a listening ear and an open heart.


{Off to go snowshoeing!}
{Story time}
{We `finally' went to Disneyland when Trish was 5 :)}
{`There's a whale!'}
{I remember this...dad was fishing off of this rock and he made all us all paranoid to stay far away so we wouldn't get a hook in our eye}

 I feel very connected to my mom when I make `her' meals.  You know, the dinners, desserts and cookies that she always had on hand.  My hope is to make my kids a recipe book with our favourites, but so far I'm not doing so well with that :)  

Is there something that makes you feel connected to your childhood?

Hope you are having a good day!

Love, Louise

3 comments:

  1. I love that you wrote this. I can still hear my dad's voice and his laugh, and it makes me sad all the time to think about the sensory memories that are starting to slip - I know that will go too, eventually. I hang on to how much he made me laugh, and how happy he was. For me these days, it's that feeling I miss - I often wish he was around to make the mundane moments a little more fun. He was so good at making life happy. It is interesting though - what the loss of a parent does to embracing what you have isn't it? Louise - do you find yourself cherishing those moments your dad has with you and the kids sooo much? thinking of you lots and loved the photos... thanks for sharing

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  2. You could also ask if anyone has letters saved that she would have written to them - your grandmother, aunts, cousins etc. I just read some old letters that my mother had written to my grandmother in the 1960's & 70's and it brought back a lot of memories and it was wonderful to see her handwriting and touch pages that she had touched.

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  3. Thank you for the reminder.

    Those ads make me giggle every time. Today it's advertising the trampoline I'm looking at from walmart!

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