Every day the numbers of people affected by Covid-19 is published but from the initial bewilderment and shock experienced almost a year ago most of us have become a little numb to the unbelievably sad numbers of people that have perished. Unfortunately my Mum was one of those just a couple of weeks ago.
She wasn’t any more or less important than any other person that passed away but she was exceptional in my eyes and still my Mum. The whole family have struggled to come to terms with her passing. I don’t want to go into any detail about what happened or how she was affected because that’s now completely irrelevant and I was in two minds about even writing a post as millions have died all around the world and it might seem a little self-indulgent.
However, I do want to say a few words about her even though she wouldn’t have liked all this attention at all. She was far happier looking after everyone and hovering in the background than sitting centre stage.
I love the line from the film Billy Elliot where the dance teacher tells Billy that his Mum sounded like an incredible person and Billy replied ‘Na, she was just me Mum‘.
Her last few years were clouded with the cruel fog of dementia so we are relieved that she has now escaped that and has had a lifetime of memories flooding back to her. And my long-departed Dad will have been patiently waiting in his ridiculous tartan trousers and spinning bow-tie to escort her to a badly-behaved fancy dress party somewhere. She missed him so much that it’s almost a joy that they are finally reunited after 30 years apart.
From being evacuated to Oxfordshire at the beginning of the Second World War through to getting a job in a big London bank at the age of 16, then falling for a floppy-haired messenger at work and getting married a couple of years later. Having three boys and giving them the happiest childhood ever, through to finally becoming a grandmother which is what she may have always been destined to become. A life full of caring and looking out for others was rewarded in a big loving family and more friends than you can imagine.
She didn’t skydive or swim with dolphins but she did dress up as a witch at halloween to scare the children, and she always had a huge bag of sweets hidden away wherever she happened to be. Offering never-ending cups of tea and more cake made her happier than anything and every house she lived in was always open to visitors. So many people absolutely adored her and she touched an awful lot of lives.
When my brothers and I were very young Mum would read us poems before bed. This was always her favourite and the one we fell asleep to;
Little Boy kneels at the foot of the bed,
Droops on the little hands little gold head.
Hush! Hush! Whisper who dares!
Christopher Robin is saying his prayers.God bless Mummy. I know that’s right.
Wasn’t it fun in the bath to-night?
The cold’s so cold, and the hot’s so hot.
Oh! God bless Daddy – I quite forgot.If I open my fingers a little bit more,
I can see Nanny’s dressing-gown on the door.
It’s a beautiful blue, but it hasn’t a hood.
Oh! God bless Nanny and make her good.Mine has a hood, and I lie in bed,
And pull the hood right over my head,
And I shut my eyes, and I curl up small,
And nobody knows that I’m there at all.Oh! Thank you, God, for a lovely day.
And what was the other I had to say?
I said “Bless Daddy,” so what can it be?
Oh! Now I remember it. God bless Me.Little Boy kneels at the foot of the bed,
Droops on the little hands little gold head.
Hush! Hush! Whisper who dares!
Christopher Robin is saying his prayers.
I couldn’t have asked for a better Mum. She was always there for all of us and will be hugely missed. I’m not sure what will ever fill that big hole in my heart.
Night Night Mum. Sleep well.
Oh Jonno, I’m so sorry to read this. Sending you and all your family my sympathies.
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Thanks Annabel. Very sad news but she didn’t suffer so that’s a relief. Awful that the family can’t be together to say our goodbyes though.
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That must be really dreadful. I feel for you.
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Beautifully written. So sorry for your loss. May your mum rest in eternal peace. 🙏🙏
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Thanks so much Dee. She will be sadly missed by so many people.
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So sorry for your loss Jonno. It’s never easy and this pandemic has made it all even worse. You have my deepest sympathy.
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Thanks so much. She didn’t suffer so we’re grateful for that but such sad times.
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So sorry Jonno, that’s really sad news. But a lovely tribute to your Mum.
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It’s incredibly sad and even more so in that we can’t all get together to say goodbye. Tough times for a lot of families.
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Jonno, I’m sorry for the loss of your mum. Thank you for writing your memories of her. Very nice done.
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Thanks Lisa, lovely of you to say. She was a lovely lady and we’ll miss her so much.
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So sorry for your lost.
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Thanks, very sad news but absolutely lovely memories to help us through.
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Ohhhhh so sorry to hear of your lose Jonno. This post brought a tear to my eye because of the obvious love you had for her. I am sure your dad was waiting with open arms to give her a big hug! Sending prayers xoxo
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Thanks Linda. He will have been ready and waiting to sweep her off her feet all over again.
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Lovely words Jon, and comments, about a lovely lady , and my friend ,
My love to all , Pam x x
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She was a great friend to so many people Pam and will be greatly missed. Touched a lot of lives.
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There’s never a good time to say goodbye to a parent, hon, and she sounds like a wonderful mum. We have experienced funerals where people can’t get together to share the laughter and tears and it’s one of the crueler aspects of this virus. The big consolation is her being back with your Dad. I bet that bow tie is spinning happily 🙂 🙂 God bless!
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It’s tough that we can’t all be together to support each other, especially the grandchildren. Not easy but it’s happening to so many families. Sad times. Comforting to think of her back with Dad on their way to a fancy dress party.
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🤗💕
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So sorry for your loss❤️
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Sad news but unfortunately so many families have been affected in this sad way.
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So sorry to hear your news but your post is an absolute credit to your Mum. Take care.
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She was a lovely lady who will be greatly missed by family and friends.
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I’m sorry to hear about your Mum but I agree it’s important to tell the stories to make the statistics human, so we remember behind those horrible statistics are so many families dealing with loss of a loved one. I’m glad you were able to write and share with us a celebration of your mother’s life.
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Thanks for your kind words Michelle, Mum was a lovely lady and touched a lot of lives. She’ll be dreadfully missed by so many people.
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So sorry to hear this – thinking of you and your family in these tough times x
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Very sad times Liz but happening to so many families. What makes it even worse is not being able to be together to support one another.
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I’m so sorry about your mum.
I’m glad you decided to write this post… it would be a shame never to have been “introduced” to her. Sounds like she was a hoot. And your dad too. I hope they’re enjoying their reunion.
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Thanks Donna, it’s a sad sad time but we’re trying to remember the happy times and hoping that her and Dad are now somewhere misbehaving together.
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This is a beautiful tribute to your mum but I cannot bring myself to click like on it today. I was just thinking this morning about all the people we know who live in UK and USA and the fact that they all know someone who has died because of Covid. I’m so sorry that you have joined them in this awful way – sending love across the oceans.
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It does seem to have touched so many people all around the world doesn’t it? So many families struggling to come to terms with it all and made even worse by the fact that we can’t be together to comfort each other. So sad.
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Hopefully things will begin to improve in UK soon.
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Let’s hope so. Could be weeks before the full lockdown is lifted though.
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My sincere sympathies. What a sad time for you all. Take care, Mel
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Thank you so much Mel, it’s unbelievably sad but unfortunately happening to so many families all over the world. Desperately sad times.
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Yes, I really thought about that at Christmas time. So many Christmas tables with empty seats. Take care, Mel
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So true Mel, there are so many families tragically affected by this dreadful pandemic. Sad times but hopefully we are on the way out of it slowly now.
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So sorry for your loss Jonno. Hope Mum and Dad are enjoying themselves together now. Take care
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Thanks so much for your kind comment. I really hope that my Dad was waiting for her somewhere to rekindle their wonderful love affair.
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Your tribute here is lovely. Please accept my offer of condolences to you and your family.
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Thanks Laura, very kind of you. Such sad news for all of us and so tough that we can’t be together.
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So so sorry for your loss ❤
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Thanks Rosie, sad sad news but it’s happening to so many families.
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We are so saddened by your loss. You wrote a nice tribute to her here. She will always be a part of you and her memories will live on in your heart!
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Thanks so much. Sad times for so many families at the moment and even sadder that we can’t be there for each other.
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I am so sorry for the loss of your mother but I hope she is at peace.
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Thanks Laci, it was a real shock and so sad but she’s back with my Dad now. They’ll be misbehaving somewhere together.
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I’m so, so sorry for your loss Jon. Your mum sounded like a much loved, lovely, caring lady, who will be very much missed. A beautiful tribute and a beautiful poem. Take care both ❤️❤️
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Thanks Liz, she was a lovely lady who touched so many lives. We all miss her and it’s so much worse that we can’t be together to support each other.
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I’m sorry for your loss Jon. I hope you managed to see her. If not, all your memories of her will be a comfort to you in the future.
Somewhere in time we will meet up again with our loved ones.
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We didn’t have a chance to see her at all so it was all a bit tough. At least she’s back with my Dad again after 30 years of being apart.
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So sorry for your loss, Jonno. Your post is a lovely tribute to your mother.
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Thanks Jessica, she was a lovely lady who will be missed by so many people.
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Gutted for you and the family Jon. What horrible circumstances to lose someone who was obviously so well loved.
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Tough for all of us but so much worse not being able to properly be together.
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Beautifully written Jonno and brought a tear to my eye. It’s hard losing a mum no matter how old you are and your words speak volumes about how loved she was. may she rest in peace with your dad now. Take care x
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Thanks Deb. Not an easy time but being back together with Dad does make it easier to come to terms with.
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I am so very sorry to hear of the loss of your dear Mum. Reading your sweet words I can see she was a wonderful person who you loved dearly. I hope she and your Dad are now happily reunited, free of the constrains of aging. Please accept our sincere condolences. XO
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Thanks so much Sue, it’s not been an easy time but she has all of her memories back now and is off somewhere with Dad misbehaving.
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So very sad and really sorry to read this news of losing your Mum and your bereavement Jon. My heart goes out to you. Please accept my sincere condolences to you and Jo and your family. Janice xx
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Thanks Janice, it was a real shock but at least she’s back with my Dad now and free of the dementia.
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So sorry to hear this Jon. Not good timing during the pandemic, but it sounds like your Mum had a very fulfilling life, with a big family around 🙂
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Thanks Ben.
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