Eighty years is a very long time. Most of those who read this blog are a way off reaching that number of years on this planet.
I know a few folk who’ve reached that estimable age. Today that group reduced its number by one.
My Mum.
I have many memories of my Mum. Obviously the most recent is seeing her in bed today, seemingly asleep. The last few years have been watching her battle various illnesses and how she battled and struggled with the different issues her body would devise to remind us all how fragile this thing called life really is.
The photo we all agreed on today as the one to reference as an enduring image of her, is this photo of her I took 13 years ago. The photo was taken as we were leaving The Firecrest pub in celebration of the two birthdays that happen in July, within our close knit family.
There are other photos I’ve got of Mum, but none capture her in as relaxed and happy a pose. Somehow, if she knew a camera was pointed at her she’d sort of clam up or harden her pose. I’ve got quite good at getting people to relax for more candid and personal photos. This one though was taken almost stealthily, to better capture the woman we all know.
There are many other memories, in the usual mix that any family has over time. None of us are saints are we? But we don’t focus on the bad, and nor should we over-glamourise the good or better recollections.
2020 has been a funny old year what with Covid, Trump, Boris, and other stuff. It’s also seen the loss of a number of people – and now includes my Mum.
Take care, look after and cherish your loved ones, you never know just how long you might have with them