True Grit…
Today, 27th November, would have been my mum’s 91st birthday.
And even though she has been gone for over a year and is now the sparkliest, brightest star in the heavens, we will still celebrate because she was so important to our whole family…
Her strength of spirit was legendary. She nursed my dad through bowel cancer and then through emphysema. She adored him – the kind of once-in-a-lifetime love that one dreams about. She lived the last fifteen years of her life alone – had no wish to meet other men or socialise because quite simply, Dad was the best and her love for him was forever.
She was courageous. She began to lose her sight through macular degeneration about ten years before she died and rarely ever complained about the encroaching dark. The only times she found it hard enough to have to say something were when she had to give up her car, which meant her independence, followed by her beloved needlework.
But she never gave up her gardening or her cooking – even with technical blindness. And when the visions associated with blindness set in – Charles Bonnet Syndrome – something that must have been disconcerting if not downright frightening, she’d pour a stiff gin, light a cigarette and wait it out. I am in awe, even now.
Two years before she died, she had a terrible fall out the door and stripped her tendons off her kneecaps which subsequently required surgery and rehab. Her pocket-rocket days were done and her last two years were spent in a deal of pain and frustration. But she never let it show – always the most stunning, upbeat octogenarian you have seen. Nearly all the condolences letters we received talk of Mum’s elegance and her matchless humour and spirit.
She was the family’s rock – whenever we needed her, she was there.
Often with food, but also with a shoulder and a clean pressed handkerchief and then some gentle words.
She had her beloved bolt-hole at Orford on the east coast of Tasmania – a house that had been in her family since she was a little girl and which she inherited from her father.
(the house with the red roof!)
At various times in her life, she called it her healing place or her happy place. Often she called it her heaven and we would love walking down the road to visit her from our place whenever she was in residence.
She was the queen of her domain and the matriarch of the clan and we loved her for it!
But the thing I loved most about my Mum was that when the chips were down, she’d gird her loins and push up her sleeves and no matter if it tore her apart, she’d get on and deal with it. What an inspiration!
True grit – that’s my Mum.
Happy 91st birthday, Claire Isabel. We miss you beyond belief…
This weekend is the anniversary of my mom’s death in 2013. Always a sad time for me. I think our moms would have liked each other. That WWII generation were tough as nails but could sail though all of it looking great, feeding everybody, and always with a smile. My mom would have been 95 this year.
Oh Anne! Love to you at this time. I think you’re right about our mums – they would have liked it each other. That generation as you say – stoic, dealing with life, putting on a good face. I want to have inherited all that from Mum. Time will tell. Have a weekend of happy memories.
Prue, great reflections about a great mom. I know exactly how you feelings drive you, we still back my fathers favorite chocolate cake on his birthday, he would have been 100 this February.
Hi James. Do you know, I inherited Mum’s handwritten cookbook and when I read through it, i can see a journey through my life, as well as Mum’s. And yes, my favourite cake is there too! I think 100 is one hell of a marker and I expect to see fabulous pics of that Chocolate Cake in February. Cheers, my friend.
Beautiful tribute to your mum Prue, Claire was some lady, I can see why the loss is so great, you must miss her terribly Hugs my dear friend xxxxx
Thanks Libby. I do miss her enormously. Whilst the last two years were so trying for her – i can still remember moments of hilarity, and indeed courage, amongst it all.