Thanks to Mary O’Connor from the Galway Advertiser for featuring an article on ‘Mum Lives On’ in the paper this week. The article is here if anyone missed it : http://advertiser.ie/galway/article/9847
Galway Advertiser
March 20, 2009
Lie down beside me
December 10, 2008
I remember when Mum was sick, coming in from an early morning walk with my Auntie and going upstairs to see Mum in bed. Mum was just getting ready to get up and face the day. I remember going in and just lying down beside her in bed and having an early morning chat. It was such a nice chat, but I remember feeling a wave of emotion run through my body as I realised just how sick Mum was.
It’s amazing how much your life can change in such a short period of time. I found my role morphing from being the daughter to encompass carer, visitor, daughter, minder. Even though my Aunt was there to fill a lot of those roles, your role as a dependent certainly does change.
Some Good Advice
November 24, 2008
If you don’t know Goya’s in Galway, you really should. It’s one of the best places for a devlilishly good coffee and cake. It’s also a place I liked to frequent with Mum. Mum really got the most out of treats, always suggesting a sugar fix, whenever we could get the chance!
I was just home from a year travelling round Australia and we were in having a coffee and cake. Mum was asking about my Ozzie fella, whom I’d left to come home and she was asking if I missed him. I couldn’t answer her and my eyes just filled up with tears. Mum just simply said ‘I know, dear’ and I knew she did.
I guess sometimes the best advice is no advice at all.
At the Kitchen Table
November 21, 2008
I remember sitting at the kitchen table- just in the middle of Mum’s illness, it was just me and Mum chatting and Mum put her hand on my arm and said ‘I can’t wait to get back to it being like this again.’
I was so delighted as we were surrounded by Oxyconton tablets, kiwis, yoghurts and the weekly pill boxes that came hand in hand with cancer lives. I think this little time out reminded us both of just what a strange situation we were in. I remember taking solice from the fact that Mum had felt the same way as me. Both of us missing normality.
Bejewelled
November 20, 2008
I spent so long looking through Mum’s jewellery collection. I’ve done it since I can remember, asking her where she got certain pieces. I remember in the 80s loving all the gaudy big costume jewellery pieces, dying for the time to come when I could wear them….come to think of it I’ve never really grown out of that phase.
When it came to splitting all Mum’s jewellery between my sister and I it was pretty easy, I loved all the big long dangly earings while my sister chose the more sedate pieces. I really enjoy wearing Mum’s earings. I actually have her earings on as I type this. I’m sure she’d be happy to see they were still doing the rounds!
