A Loving Tribute

I don't usually use this blog for my innermost private thoughts and feelings, but I feel that it is right for me to make this exception.I would like to record my loving tribute to my Mother here in these "pages"; as a testament to her, and all that she meant to me.Yesterday was her funeral, and despite the pain, I feel we managed to celebrate her life, and find a way to take all those good thoughts and memories forward in to the rest of our lives.
I am grateful to the minister for reading what I had written just as it appeared on the page; it was so very important to me.

"Our Mother assumed many family roles throughout the 75 years of her life.In order they would be: Daughter, Sister, Wife, Aunty, Mother, Grandmother.But a title can't fully describe who a person is.

She was the 3 year old war time evacuee who found herself sat up on a high shelf, in the pub-home of strangers, for some imagined misdemeanour.She was the young woman taught to speedily tot up long columns of figures by an Uncle.She was the mother who, without fail, reserved the tenderest morsels on the plate for her two young daughters, or encouraged us to eat the last chocolates in her box.

A constant presence in our lives giving comfort and reassurance.She was the perfect, adoring Grandmother who was herself adored in return.

She had a warm and pretty smile,and we loved to hear her giggle and laugh.She was also immensely capable, efficient and unflappable - and a confirmed stoic.She would never have asked," Why me?" but rather, calmly stated "Why not me."

Gail and I used to joke that Mummy squeezed way more than 60 minutes out of every hour.You can bet that within 59 minutes of arriving where she is now she had taken down the curtains and washed them, cleaned out the cupboards, run up some cushions, and put an excellent home-cooked meal in the oven.

She wouldn't mind me concluding this summary of her character whimsically, by saying she was:

more casserole than steamer,

more chocolate than crispbread

more Rolling Stones than the Beatles

more Blue Skies than clouds.

To our Mother, and our Best Friend, in the words of Simon and Garfunkel; "Sail on Silver Girl.""

As a family we used to love listening to Simon and Garfunkel's greatest hits album.It would often be playing on a Sunday through the '70s, when I would come home from riding, and she would be in the kitchen making the dinner. "Bridge Over Troubled Water" was a favourite track with its beautiful lyrics.I was honoured to hear the song I specially requested played yesterday.

extract from "Bridge Over Troubled Water"

Sail on Silver Girl,

Sail on by.

Your time has come to shine

All your dreams are on their way.

See how they shine,

If you need a friend

I'm sailing right behind,

Like a bridge over troubled water

I will ease your mind.

Like a bridge over troubled water,

I will ease your mind.


Thank you to everyone for all your kind and tender thoughts.It has given much comfort.

Ruth x