Torn between conflicting feelings...
Today I'm torn between conflicting feelings: it’s seven years today since my precious mother passed away. And I'm torn between the wealth of wonderful memories I have of her and the huge gaping hole that she left - as she was irreplaceable. I know most people think their mother was (or is) special - and undoubtedly they are - however my mother’s the only person I've ever known who had what I'd describe as a "pure heart". She was never envious of what others had, or jealous of people, she never criticised or judged - she was completely fair-minded in a world where that's incredibly tough.
You know how common it is for brothers and sisters to talk and complain about each other - usually behind each other's backs - griping and criticising, etc. - but if any of my three older brothers or I would criticise one of the others - behind their back - and in her presence – she’d always refuse to "gossip" and talk "like that" behind that sibling's back. And she’d say it wasn't fair to talk about someone when they weren't there and she'd never be dragged down to the level of criticising and nitpicking the way most of us never even give a second thought to.
Honestly, she had this pure way of relating to the world which was astounding. Wish I could have 1/10 of that!
When she was diagnosed with "late onset" Parkinson's she fought it with such courage and was so stoic. She literally never complained as she progressively suffered from it. Even at the end - when she was like a frail little bird in her wheelchair - we started calling her "Rockin' grandma" because my children would put music on and she’d tap her feet and shake her head no matter how raucous it was - and we're talking some in-your-face bands!
I think of her many times each day and imagine what she’d say to me in certain situations because she always had amazing advice. She would’ve been a phenomenal agony aunt!
TODAY’S THOUGHT: if you're missing someone you've lost think of a way to celebrate their lives. Whenever I travel I wear a pair of my mother's socks because she loved travelling and it makes me feel like she’s travelling around the place with me. I hope if you're missing a loved one, you can get the strength from your family or friends.
Now for something completely different, today in the Express Newspaper I've commented on their story about sex addiction off the back of the pictures of Tiger Woods in the clinic in Mississippi have been flashed round the world. Personally I think it's a terrible intrusion of privacy for some paparazzi to get snaps like that. What purpose did it serve? Did anyone really feel better looking at pictures of him unshaven and slightly bedraggled with a sweatshirt around his head? I think not! Time to leave him alone!
Also time for some romance as today I’m writing a feature for Valentine's Day. Hope you're planning a surprise already for your Valentine! Love, Pam x