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Sadly mum passed away over a month ago on 20 October 2021, 95 years young. Fortunately she did not have COVID.
Due to Auckland’s Lockdown level and border restrictions around Auckland, we could not have a service.
Yesterday, Today, Forever (Brunfelsia) was one of her favourite plants.
We will always remember you mum.
Mum had dementia (not Alzheimers). She did not know us and would not remember when we had been to visit her.
Mum in the past has always been there for us:
[posted in advance of Mother’s Day this year- Mum would not know]
You may appreciate this poem:
The Longest of Goodbyes
Broken into pieces,
Shattered and afraid.
I see it in your eyes,
An empty silent gaze.
I hold your hand, in my hand.
Not knowing what to do.
You’re lost to me forever.
I can’t fix this part of you.
For years, I’ve watched you slip away.
Becoming frail and oh so weak.
A man of strength and stature.
I watch in disbelief.
By a demon, you were taken.
By a force that knows no cure.
This sad and empty feeling
Too painful to endure.
A twisted maze of tangles.
Too many to untie.
The light’s turned into darkness,
In this …. The longest of goodbyes.
Patty Richardson
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Green Bottles, Alan's Ark & COVID Odyssey: Alan Grace's vir[tu]al journey 
Reblogged this on Green Bottles, Alan's Ark & COVID Odyssey: Alan Grace's vir[tu]al journey and commented:
Happy Mothers day Mum
I miss you Mum
May you rest in peace
For you Mum
My version of
Before I Go
Before I go and my time is gone
And there is no one else to carry on
Might have been brighter, might have been thinner
I’m partly saint and partly sinner
I want no praise and I want no tears
I just want peace in my final years
Life’s an adventure from beginning to end
Roll with the changes and stay a good friend
Made many poor choices along the way
Not easily tempted or led astray
Fought with my conscience, sailed these seas with ease
Always better when Ken fell to his knees
Never felt the need to fit in with the crowd
Forever Mum I stand tall and stand proud
Very logical, to you making sense
Responses at times were just self-defence
Before I go, I want you all to know
Either enemy or friend, I loved you so
Good times enjoyed as we moved along
Hard times were great, they made us strong
Burnt bridges that now I wish I could cross
Sometimes I look back and contemplate loss
Dreaming of days past and faraway places
Loving memories before time past erases
Before I go and before I forget
Still a lot to do so I’m not ready yet
Lost a few friends and most of my hair
Still I’m not ready for that rocking chair
Poor choices may have stifled my vanity
Did Jenny help me keep my sanity?
Just dodge the punches and roll with the flow
I’ve got a lot to do before I go.
Modified by
Alan Grace
14 May 2023
Mothers Day
Original version:
https://www.poetrysoup.com/poem/before_i_go_1423910
https://aaamazingphoenix.wordpress.com/2021/11/22/covid-odyssey-spring-spruce-up-36-post919-mum-yesterday-today-forever-we-will-remember-you/
https://guestdailyposts.wordpress.com/guest-pingbacks/
More changes to come!
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