Sunday is one of the most special days on the calendar. Mother’s Day.
They don’t come much more important than that.
For me it’s a bittersweet day. My Mum was taken from our family far too early, so while it’s always a day to celebrate, there’s some sombre reflection as well. Routinely being in the Cowichan Valley for the first time in more than a quarter-century has brought a ton of memories flooding back, so Sunday will be even more noteworthy.
For my Mum, and all the other special ladies out there, I wanted to rework some of my previous Mother’s Day thoughts for a fresh audience — and more importantly, hear from all of you as well.
First off, I know it’s hard to take your eyes off the young stallion in the photo accompanying this piece.
The full-of-himself young fellow rocking the too-short shorts, tank top and brown socks with the stylish North Star runners. My sartorial resplendence knew no bounds. Sun’s out, guns out...
But if you can peel your eyes away from me and my pigtailed little sis (family vacation in Alberta), focus for a minute on the lovely lady on the right. That’s my mother. Mum died in 1987. She was just 44 years old. Cancer. Not a day goes by that I don’t think of her. Not a day will ever go by that I don’t think of her.
She was the most incredible woman I have ever met and the single biggest influence on my life.
Because I was still pretty much a kid when she fell ill and passed away, I still have trouble wrapping my head around the whole thing. I am older now than Mum was when she left us.
That’s not right. She lived for us. And if I didn’t necessarily appreciate it enough as a kid, that appreciation grows with every passing day. I could fill this entire newspaper with my amazing memories. The lessons she taught me will stick with me forever and formed the basis of what I’ve passed along to my own offspring. She is with me every day. Memories are so important, for all of us.
I’ve been fortunate enough to have a platform for years to offer up my thoughts. As mentioned, now I want yours. I want to hear about your favourite memories of your mother. Whether she’s passed on to bigger and better things, or is still here with us, tell me why she is special.
Here’s some memories from my sister Penny: “I remember as a little girl watching her get ready to go to the policeman’s ball and thinking how beautiful she looked and how I wanted a dress and shoes just like hers when I grew up.
All the driving she did to all of our activities never missing ANYTHING and never once complaining — I know now how much work that is. Realizing how much she taught me in the short time I had her — usually when I go to do something and I already know how to do it (such as cooking a turkey) it’s ’cause she showed me. Her love for making holidays special — reading The Night Before Christmas with my kids like she did with us. Subtly following a lady in the mall a few years after Mum died because she was wearing the same Tabu perfume Mum wore. That was rough. Her special name for me that no one else called me. The list goes on...”
Man, it’s a little dusty in here, no?
Send along your memories or photos. You can email them to me or post them on the Citizen’s Facebook page (we’ll have a link to this piece). I’ll see about sharing some of the best responses in a future column. We’ve got a $50 gift certificate from the fine folks at Mr. Mike’s for one lucky respondent, who’ll be chosen at random.
And make sure you spoil the heck out of all the moms out there on Sunday. They deserve it.
Every day should be Mother’s Day.