August 18, 2008

• Remembering My Mother

  I originally wrote
  this (with some help from my BFF, Jeanne, and some inspiration from
  Tearsofpearls85) as a sort of guide for the minister who would be
  presiding over my mother’s memorial and funeral services. I planned on
  reading the lyrics section and I did. The reverend ended up reading the
  rest of it before I read the words to the Marty Robbins’ song, Little
  Green Valley, so this is slightly out of order.

  I debated over whether or not to post this. In the end, I decided that it might be a good way for me to get through everything I need to get through, and in a way, it puts my mother out in the Neverland of the internet, and I like that idea very much:

  Anyone who knew my mother knows that she loved things to be simple and she never liked anyone to make a fuss over her, so I’ll try to be brief about who my mother was.
   
  My mom knew where she came from, was proud of her husband, children and friends.  She was very proud to serve her country.  She had a great sense of humor and a love for all animals, especially horses.   

  Those who knew my mom will always be reminded of her when watching a western, the Three Stooges, a horse race, or a Yankees or Mets game.  Let’s face it, we all know that if my mom had a spot on ‘Jeopardy!’, she would have struck it rich!  Speaking of striking it rich, with the way my mom drank Dr. Pepper, I should have bought stock in that company.

  My mother always put everyone’s needs above her own; even her hopes and dreams were not for her, but for her friends, her children and their children.  Even when she was getting ready to leave us, her concerns were not for herself.  She wanted us to know that we would be alright without her. Luckily for us, we are never really without her. Her love for us is that powerful.

  Mom was an avid reader and introduced me to some of the best authors that ever lived; I will probably never be able to read a book or watch a Shakespeare play without thinking of her.  One of her loves was poetry, and so I wanted to share one of her favorite poems, but none of them seemed appropriate, so I turned to her favourite musical artist, Marty Robbins, for help:

  “I see a candle light, down in the little green valley,
  Where morning glory vines are twining ’round my door.
  Oh, how I wish I were there again, down in the little green valley;
  That’s where my homesick heart will trouble me no more.

  There’s only one thing ever gives me consolation,
  And that’s the thought that I’ll be going back someday.
  And every night, down upon my knees, I pray the Lord to please take me
  Back to that little old green valley far away.

  I hear a mocking bird, down in the little green valley.
  He’s singing out a song of welcome just for me,
  And someone waits by the garden gate, down in the little green valley;
  When I get back again how happy he will be.

  And by a little babbling brook, once more, we’ll wander,
  And in a shady nook we’ll dream the hours away.
  And I will leave all my cares behind, go where I know I’ll find sunshine,
  Back to that little old green valley far away.”

  My mother was not very religious, but I’m sure she would not mind if I quoted from John 14:27-29:

  “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. You heard me say to you, ‘I go away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I go to the Father; for the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place, you may believe.”

  She wanted us to honour her memory by living our lives to the fullest, happy in knowing that she is with our father, and at peace.

  Thank you for coming.

   

  • 1:08 am
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