A candle for Mum.

by frogpondsrock on November 30, 2009

in cancer,Grief

Yesterday we attended a memorial service conducted by the palliative care people.

While we were waiting for the service to start I looked around me at a sea of faces. People of all ages who were there because someone they loved had recently died. You could feel the sadness in the room and we were all silently sitting waiting for the service to start.

The service opened with a short prayer and someone read a poem. A little girl across the room from me started to cry and her tears set me off.

My husband sat beside me openly crying. My son sat on my other side, holding my hand and keeping himself rigidly under control. My daughter looked ready to shatter into a million pieces and my grandmother quietly wept.

As I sat there with tears streaming down my face a woman smiled at me through her own tears and I wondered who she had lost? I wondered if it will always be this hard? Will this ache, this longing for my Mother always be so strong?

Two hundred and twenty names were read out but I was only listening for one.

candles.

{ 27 comments }

Marylin November 30, 2009 at 9:59 am

OH sweetheart. *hugs* and lots of love to you all. xxx

Trish November 30, 2009 at 10:43 am

Hugs , lighting a candle and hearing that one special name can be so bittersweet but beautiful.

Our hospital runs memorial services too.

Yes the longing never stops but the pain isn’t so strong.

Kellie November 30, 2009 at 10:44 am

It’s so hard. Last November we lost our Grandma and the other day I picked up the phone to call her. I will always miss her. Thinking of you. xx

Pixie November 30, 2009 at 10:47 am

gentle hugs….its hard……….I know…

Gemisht November 30, 2009 at 10:53 am

Hugs for all of you. I sincerely hope that the ache for your mother won’t be as strong as it is now. I still desperately miss my grandmother after 21 years but the ache has gone, mostly. At least now its easier to think of her and smile, and share a laugh with Mum when we remember the fun times.

Renee @ Just_A_Mumma November 30, 2009 at 11:41 am

Just ((HUGS))..

Brenda November 30, 2009 at 1:00 pm

Oh Kim, no words just (((hugs))).

Mrs. Oh November 30, 2009 at 2:32 pm

Mom’s birthday was on Christmas – putting up the decorations is always so hard on me now. This is our 5th without her. Your post stucked the air out of my lungs – hugs Kim and to all the others that have also lost their Moms.

pg November 30, 2009 at 3:31 pm

Ah, Froggie.

I know.

I’ll sit here with you and hold yer hand, ok?

I was watching that damned 20 to 1 last night for some gratuitous brain fairy floss, when “Unforgettable” came on.

It’s been 3 years, and there I was sobbing like a baby for my Daddy-O.

Big fat Auntie Purple Boosie Snuggles for you.

river November 30, 2009 at 4:09 pm

This is beautiful Kim.
I’ve never been to a memorial service.
I did attend my sister-in-laws funeral years ago….

Jientje November 30, 2009 at 7:59 pm

I don’t know if it will always be so hard. I’m told the rough edges will dissapear, but still. Your Mom will always be missed, that’s for sure.

Achelois November 30, 2009 at 8:55 pm

Can’t type properly – too choked with tears in eyes for you all. Hugs…

Mrs. C November 30, 2009 at 10:07 pm

I think it’s lovely that they did that for you and gave everyone a time to remember. I hope it was comforting to look around and see others who were also going through the same sort of thing.

Barbara December 1, 2009 at 12:00 am

I’m so sorry, I wish I could have come with you to help hold you all up.

Bendy Girl December 1, 2009 at 2:35 am

Love to you all. BG Xx

Martin December 1, 2009 at 6:12 am

220. Just too many. Too many ‘ones’.

Tanya December 1, 2009 at 10:15 am

xxx

Kristin December 2, 2009 at 11:57 am

I stumbled across your site on blogcatalog. Beautiful writing, poetic and evocative. I lost my mom to cancer 16 years ago and it still hurts. I’m sorry for your loss. – Kristin

Sharon December 2, 2009 at 3:13 pm

Hugs, lots of them.

Jayne December 3, 2009 at 11:25 am

(((hugs))) Time will heal but you’ll never forget and never be the same again.

Tinkingbell December 3, 2009 at 2:39 pm

Lots of hugs – it was the anniversary of Mum’s death last weekend, and she has been on my mind and in my heart, as I’m sure, your mother has been for you

Kelley @ Magnetoboldtoo December 3, 2009 at 6:20 pm

Oh Kim. Still sending those hugs your way.

Ali December 3, 2009 at 11:02 pm

I’m sorry it took me so long to read this. Hugs for you. x

Hyphen Mama December 4, 2009 at 8:00 am

I know you must be exhausted from all these cyber hugs, but I’m sending you another one.

{{{{{HUG}}}}}

jebaru December 6, 2009 at 8:18 pm

I’m so sorry, Kim. It’s very hard xxx

Y December 6, 2009 at 10:37 pm

Very sorry to hear about your loss.

Mistress B December 6, 2009 at 11:40 pm

huge hugs

Comments on this entry are closed.

Previous post:

Next post: