Remembering My Mother
Today marks 35 years since my mother passed away. After so many years, I no longer feel the loss so deeply, but I'll always remember when this date rolls around.
I think one of the most lasting ways I've continued to feel her absence is during the holiday season. She always made a big production out of Christmas, with elaborate preparations in decorating, gift buying and wrapping, cooking, and so on. Largely because of her, holidays were a special time each year we all looked forward to, even magical, when I was a small child.
My sister has attempted to keep up my mother's traditions in many ways, not just for holidays. She even admitted to me at one time that she always tries to do what she thinks my mother would have done in a similar situation. Indeed, the older my sister gets, the more she reminds me of my mother.
Unfortunately, I've not been able to spend a Christmas with my sister since 1985, and the traditions aren't quite the same by mail for either one of us. I hope that one year, we can spend it together again for old times' sake.
I am lucky to still have my mother. I've lost my father and my
step-father, but was well into adulthood before the loss.
I hope you can visit your sister for a holiday soon, and this Christmas, I will raise a glass to the memory of your mom.
W, I wish that for you.
Unfortunenately the holidays always seemed to be a time of great turmoil
when I was growing up. I've tired to make things better for my children
and I guess I may have to some extent. It's hard with broken up families
today but considering a call I got yesterday I know I did something right
with my kids. :-)
My Mom also made the holidays special. I couldn’t wait for Thanksgiving and
Christmas to roll around each year. She made that whole month in between
the two holidays special. After she passed away I started to hate that time
of year. It took my husband and his family to get me to start liking it
again. Now I have my own things I do to celebrate the season and it makes
her loss a little less painful (still miss her and visit her grave every
Christmas Eve). My sister took over the roll my Mom played too, but it is
too painful for me to go there. I hope you can visit your sister for the
holiday some time. It sounds like your family still has some bonds. It
would be a shame to lose those.
Here's hoping...
My mother can be the most difficult person at times but I've recently
discovered how much she means to me. She's a pretty remarkable person, as
mothers tend to be - oh and formidable too :-)
Something for the christmas wish list. I hope you get it.
I'm sorry that I missed this post earlier, and sorry for the pain. I'm
sure that it gave your mother much joy to create special holidays for you.
