Remembering Mum’s Smile. 22/2019.
I admit it.
I inherited my Mum’s smile.
I did not always appreciate this until too late.
That was when I lost my smile to cancer.
Today it is 12 years since Mum died.
Wow.
The ‘last’ great smile photo taken by me at Mum and Dad’s 60th Wedding Anniversary lunch. 2006.
Mum was unwell for around 2 years before it was found in early 2007 that she had multiple brain tumours with no known primary source.
That was it. Mum said “no more tests” when there could have been further explorations based on what the Neurosurgeon saw in her MRI. When Mum said that, he said “that is what I would say for my Mum too.”
Dad and our close family agreed of course because Mum was not a fan of hospitals, doctors or illness and in some respects that was why diagnosis was delayed. BUT….we knew Mum. And she most of all knew herself. So, over the next 6 or so weeks, she gradually worsened. We had our chance to say goodbyes and over the final days, Dad stayed at her side in the private hospital going home at the nurse’s insistence as Mum would succumb soon. She did, once he left (that is the way with many isn’t it?) and then we knew that the love of Dad’s life, the mother of two, grandmother of four, great-grandmother of 3, mother-in-law and friend of many had died.
But, we celebrate Mum often. In the years that I have passed, I have called on her help with recipes I have forgotten some ingredients in -she was a self-taught home cook and great! And what I noticed, in more recent times, was how much my smile was like hers. Dad has this image above in his unit where he moved to 4 years after her death. He still has the various dried floral arrangement she loved to make or buy. I think I did get some of my creative loves from Mum but took a long while to acknowledge that.
Mum and I have never been considered alike in body, temperament and education background …I am my father’s daughter. But I am short like she was and I have definitely inherited her love of colourful clothing.
So, when I got cancer in my upper gum and under my top lip, I missed smiling more than eating. I truly did. It came as a surprise to me just how much it meant for me to smile.
Getting my smile back in August 2018 I did not stop beaming for quite some time.
Today then I pay tribute to Mum and her smile….with a few of mine she would love too!
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- 1991. GD (left) Me (right)
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- late ’80s/early 90s
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- 1996: great-GD #1
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- 1999: great-GD #2
Thanks Mum. Here’s some from me. Love, Denyse xx
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- September ’18
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- November ’18
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- December ’18
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- February ’19.
How do you remember someone who has been part of your life and now gone?
Have you inherited any of your family’s traits?
It really can be something to consider!
Thanks for viewing and reading about my Mum today: 5 March 2019, 12 years after her death.
Denyse.
Joining with Sue and Leanne here for Midlife Share The Love on Wednesday.
Here I am linking up with Leanne for Lovin’ Life linky on Thursday.
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