It’s easy to talk about my feelings, not so easy to talk about who my mum was, but on October 16th it would of been mums 58th birthday, and I want to share her beauty with you.
Wrapped up in a small 4’11” frame, with wild curly blonde hair, mum had a wicked laugh and way about her. She was unforgettable. Her sense of humour, quick whit and intelligence, remarkable. She was speedy on her feet, sensible and silly. She was anxious too, a deep troubled thinker, but on the surface could appear carefree. She was a nurse, fun mum, not your typical older sister. She loved to garden, bake cupcakes, apple crumble, chocolate cheesecake. Disaster movies were her favourite, paired with true crime and dodgy day time tele (think First 48, Judge Judy, Nothing to Declare).
Looking after others was her calling and she worked a lot! During patients final hours she made them feel comfortable and safe, it was her favourite part of the job. She taught me everything I know. She loved animals, if she had the space she would of rescued every dog. At one point we had four. Her dream was to become a financially free dog groomer, with lots of land, chickens and space to roam. She was a vegan, spiritual thinker, loved a Buddha statue and a Bonsai tree.
She was a fashionable complicated human, shopaholic, worrier, carrot cake lover, fiat 500 driver and rubbish texter. She loved a rude joke, she told the best. She was impulsive, proud, loved the beach, was rubbish with technology. She hated fuss and forced fun, but she loved being the banker in Monopoly. Turquoise was her favourite colour, Autumn and Spring her favourite seasons. A stock of Ben & Jerrys always sat waiting in the freezer. She worked most Christmas’s, and broke the bank to spoil us rotten, we never went without. She made the best roast potatoes, ratatouille, veggie curry. She loved to walk, spend at TK Max, people watch, criticise, listen to Radio 4.
No one else could compare. We could talk and talk and talk for hours, be our truest selves, and support each other when it felt like no one else was there. She was everything. Chaotic, messy, hilarious, emotional, older than her time, wiser than her years, and somehow, she also felt my age. Until the very end she was worried about others, putting on a brave face, playing her sickness down. She had it all planned too, wrote down almost everything, we knew exactly what to do, and she nursed herself as much as possible, until her final hours at St Luke’s.
She was, with all her faults and funny ways, the best person I’ve never known. She was understandably complex, not harsh or scary. I don’t think she ever knew how generous, smart and lovable she was, how many people loved her, or how many lives she’d touched.
I wish I’d told her more.
She was the very best.
.
What a beautiful testament to your mom. She sounds amazing and that smile could melt even the most frozen of hearts. Thank you for sharing her with us 💙
What a beautiful post. Your Mum sounds like a totally beautiful, selfless being. Thank you for sharing more about her. x