Thank You

...to everyone who has left a comment or sent an email with condolences. I have appreciated every single one, and been reminded again and again how grateful I am for this online community and for the readers who come here. Your support and caring mean a great deal to me. I haven't been able to access my site or approve comments for nearly a week, and have been sorry not to be able to publish all the beautiful notes I received until now. My apologies to those whose comments didn't appear and seemed unacknowledged.

My mother's memorial service was on Wednesday, and now my husband and I are back in Montréal, where some blogger-friends are gathering this weekend: a wonderful antidote to some of the sadness and self-absorption of the past two weeks. I'm tired and still sad - and I know that grief will continue to visit me in waves, often unexpected ones, for a some time to come - and I don't feel like I have a lot of energy for either talking or writing. But, as my mother reminded me on several occasions, death is simply a part of life, and we have to carry on. She gave me such an example of strength, courage, and grace: I really have no choice but to try to emulate her.

Check back; I'm sure there will be some new posts and new photographs here pretty soon. And thank you all again.

Comments

[Julia]

Strength, grace, courage, yes
I wish you all of these
But do not underestimate the effect of bereavement on your health
Take time to weep and wail, to feel the sadness of a little girl who has lost her Mom and will never fill that void
Take time to grieve
and then, in time, I promise you, the world will start to heal and you will suddenly be filled with memories of your childhood and your mother that you thought you'd long forgotten.... it's almost like grief purges and then comes a calm acceptance that unlocks hidden treasures from The Past that fill you with smiles and comfort you and you feel that your mother is still with you, just out of sight....
namaste

[Pascale Soleil]

I am very sorry to have a mother's death in common with you. It's a club that no one wants to belong to... indeed one does not even know it exists until one belongs.

I hope your grief will be the teacher for you that mine has been for me. It changes, it waxes and wanes, it is never the same... let no-one tell you how to mourn.

Blessings and peace...