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Mum's Got Cancer; Part Nineteen: Grief and Doing it Right


There are so many things that make me think of you. Daily. Today as I was walking to the station I realised that I am not left with a hole, with a sense of grief, sad that you died; I am left with a sense of happiness, of gladness that you lived.

Is it because I have grieved well or is it because you lived magnificently and brought us up to be thankful?


I am grateful that we have so many memories and stories. That I see you in so many of the things I do. Your memory lives on when I let the children know that you loved this or would have enjoyed that or even that you would have hated something. When I tell Eliza how proud you would have been of her recent school report. When we talk to Dexter about you and point you out in photos.

I love that we have “your beach”. A place we can go as a family to enjoy the seaside and to remember you.

I love that I can laugh with you still. Or that I say hello if I see a Robin in the garden. Or I smile at a random white feather floating around me.

And I am thankful that you gave me Dexter; I know you did. You would have loved him, as you did all your grandchildren, and he does remind me of you from time to time. Oh and Mum; he does a great “Miss Piggy”.

Have fun up there and keep visiting once in a while. You are loved and your memories are cherished every single day. Thank you.

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