thanks for birthing me Mom
Towards the end of my mom's life, she didn't have much to look forward to except for a smoke now and then, a whiskey water now and then and her weekend date with dad, where he would pick her up and bring her home for the day.
During this last bout, she didn't even get to have any of those things. Dad could no longer take her home for a day, she could no longer go out for a smoke and the whiskey had become an absolute no-no due to the inability to stabilze her sugar.
Before the viewing on Sunday, March 16, 2008, I told Dad I was going to put a bottle of whiskey and a pack of cigarettes in the casket with her. He really liked the idea of that. I was pleased.
So that afternoon, when the family was at the viewing and after I had delivered the "goods" to mom, I was sitting by Dad and he said, "I would just love to have one more drink with her, just one more."
I looked at him and said, "that is do-able Dad."
I gathered up my two brothers and the four of us went up to Mom, and I reached in and took out the bottle of whiskey that I had tucked inside the casket moments earlier and handed it to Dad. He openend it, touched her hand with the bottle, in a toasting gesture, and took a swig. He then handed it to my older brother, who said a few toasting words and took a swig, then handed it to my younger brother who did the same and then it was handed to me and I followed suit. The cap was placed back on the bottle and tucked back into place with her.
She loved a snowy day. The day of the funeral, when the church service was over and the doors opened, to place her in the hearse, it was snowing. She got a beautiful heavy, wind-free snow during the entire time we were at the cemetary. It stopped when we all arrived back to town. The power of spirits, huh?
After the burial, we went back to the house. We were joined by the grandkids, great granddaughter, more family and friends. The younger brother put on the DVDs that Dad has been making over the past few years of the old still photos and the old home movies. I think there were 15-20 of us gathered around watching these DVDs. There was much warm chatter going on while viewing the captured memories and we all laughed hard while watching these. I was so glad I got to enjoy them with both my brothers at the same time.
What a neat gift my Dad has made for us.
During this last bout, she didn't even get to have any of those things. Dad could no longer take her home for a day, she could no longer go out for a smoke and the whiskey had become an absolute no-no due to the inability to stabilze her sugar.
Before the viewing on Sunday, March 16, 2008, I told Dad I was going to put a bottle of whiskey and a pack of cigarettes in the casket with her. He really liked the idea of that. I was pleased.
So that afternoon, when the family was at the viewing and after I had delivered the "goods" to mom, I was sitting by Dad and he said, "I would just love to have one more drink with her, just one more."
I looked at him and said, "that is do-able Dad."
I gathered up my two brothers and the four of us went up to Mom, and I reached in and took out the bottle of whiskey that I had tucked inside the casket moments earlier and handed it to Dad. He openend it, touched her hand with the bottle, in a toasting gesture, and took a swig. He then handed it to my older brother, who said a few toasting words and took a swig, then handed it to my younger brother who did the same and then it was handed to me and I followed suit. The cap was placed back on the bottle and tucked back into place with her.
She loved a snowy day. The day of the funeral, when the church service was over and the doors opened, to place her in the hearse, it was snowing. She got a beautiful heavy, wind-free snow during the entire time we were at the cemetary. It stopped when we all arrived back to town. The power of spirits, huh?
After the burial, we went back to the house. We were joined by the grandkids, great granddaughter, more family and friends. The younger brother put on the DVDs that Dad has been making over the past few years of the old still photos and the old home movies. I think there were 15-20 of us gathered around watching these DVDs. There was much warm chatter going on while viewing the captured memories and we all laughed hard while watching these. I was so glad I got to enjoy them with both my brothers at the same time.
What a neat gift my Dad has made for us.
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3 comments:
that is beautiful, bren. Love never ends, does it? Not REAL, true love.
*hugs*
damn, bren, you choked this ol' bastard up.
I loved the telling of this story. I hope you are doing ok...well, as ok as one can under the circumstances. Mind if I have a whiskey?
You brought tears to my eyes. I know your Mom is smiling from above.
Beautiful memories last forever and you will always have those memories to carry you through and remind you of your Mom.
-Michelle
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