The Granny

I really enjoyed this one.

This is beautiful, and such a deeply moving tribute; maybe it's the Season, or maybe I'm just tired, maybe none of the above, but I did feel a few tears start with this one. The photo is so sweet too.
I know she will welcome her family in again, when the time is right. Thank you for sharing this precious time with us.

very tender

My dear mom, passed away April 5th 2005, unexpectedly just a day short of her 75th birthday. The photo was the last one I took of her and the last time I saw her alive. I got to the hospital were she was dying, Kept alive only by life support, She was no longer with us. My brother knew I was enroute and asked them to wait until we got there. It was a 6 hour drive. I had been planning to spend the week with her and take her to dinner, She had been looking forward to my coming and had gone out only the week before and bought a brand new pretty pink dress to wear for her 75th birthday party and dinner. Then she came down with a terrible cough which turned quickly into pnemonia and then in 3 days she was gone. I never said goodbye, just kissed her and said "See ya later, Mom" Maybe she heard me, maybe not but minutes later life support was taken off and she slipped away until we meet again. Miss her terribly. We had some really rough years but the last few we became close and freinds as well as mother and daughter.

This is a very heart felt expression of remeberance. My favorite line, "The old woman woke and longed for the days / When she had no time for rest.", Because it leaves me respecting the mind and needs of the aging, how they can come to long for hard work that they can no longer do. It is a sad and precious memory.

Jen, my heart goes out to you. The poem is a wonderful tribute to your mothers memory, I know she would be proud. Bless you!

Thank you Doug, I think as we get older and slow down, we look back on our younger days and of the strengh we had then, the stamina, and energy. It seems we could do so much more. Our minds are often willing in age but the body no longer can keep up.

My mom told me once a couple of years ago she would be working away, cooking or gardening then, would pass a mirror and see her reflection and stop and stare and she said she would think "who is that old lady" then realize it was her. She said it just would make her sad, because she did not think of herself as old until she passed a mirror or could not do things she once had done.

Sweet and sad all at the same time. Couldn't stop myself from silently humming along to that Elvis Costello tune (10 points if you guess it right) while reading this.

An Ode To Mother ... I love it...I love it...What a briliant and moving idea.. Thank you for sharing