Hi, Grace! Today would have been your 86th birthday. For so many years, I bought you flowers on my birthday and then again on yours - just to thank you for being such a fabulous mom and great friend. Today, you're not here to receive any flowers from me, so I bought myself a miniature pink rosebush, which is sitting right here on my desk. When it's finished with this blooming cycle, I'll plant it ouside the living room window and enjoy it for years to come.
The blooming cycle that was your life was a wonderful one - something I'm proud to have been related to. You went back to school mid-life, you raised two kids on your own, and you loved to play the piano and sing. I really loved all the traveling we did together - Paris, London, Rome. You taught me to be strong and self-reliant, you taught me to love openly and freely.
I wonder what your next blooming cycle will be like - I hope you are able to enjoy your music, to fulfill your great, unrealized dream of singing opera. I hope you enjoy good health - not like the diabetes you had to struggle with for 45 years this past time.
Sometimes, I still miss you - sometimes, something strange will happen, like Arnold Schwarzenegger being elected governor of California. And my first thought will be - Oh, my God! I have to tell Grace! We'll have a laugh together about this! But then you're not there to tell. Sometimes I wish I could take you to a movie or a play I like and then talk to you about it. Oh, well.
You left a good mark on this world, Grace - I wish you the best for your next blooming cycle. I hope it's as glorious as you deserve. Thanks for everything.
Your loving daughter, Byrd
Posted by wahzoh at May 21, 2007 11:58 AMWhat a lovely tribute to a wonderful mother. My own mother died at 44 and would have been 75 last September if she'd lived. There are often times when something happens that I think about calling her up to share with her and then I remember, too. My mom was funny and quirky and there is a lot of her in me.
Michele
Posted by: Michele at May 21, 2007 01:27 PMByrd:
What a fabulous, heartfelt tribute to Grace. Please share with me (us) your most treasured moment of moments with your mom.
Charles
Posted by: Charles at May 22, 2007 01:05 PMWow, Chuck - that is almost impossible to do - there is too much choice. What a challenge! Let me think about it.
Byrd
Posted by: Byrd in LA at May 22, 2007 01:09 PMByrd,
Anytime you need to you can borrow my 79 year old feisty as hell mom. She is so full of life sometimes that I celebrate her living in Chicago and my living in northern California:)
Anyway two of her sisters and many cousins live in California (mainly around Sacramento and Los Angeles) so I am never too far away from the Mississippi wild folks (black folks who mainly grew up in Choctaw country around a place called Learned, Mississippi).
Longevity runs in both sides of my family (dad is 81 and a tough Gullah-Geechee man)-- most of my family live well into their 90's except for the many who live the party hardy life.
Thanks for reminding me to value my mom and dad while they are still in their present and cantakerous form. These two are so rowdy that they divorced last March after 55 years of marriage.
Learning that life for some begins at 75:)
Best,
Mimi
This blog was really very beautiful. What is the connection with Arnold? That just threw me, and that isn't easy. Tell me, tell me, tell me...
Maltz
Posted by: Bruce Maltz at May 25, 2007 07:19 PMWow! I threw Bruce Maltz! Excuse me while I polish my buttons....but seriously, Bruce, the reference to Arnold had to do with the fact that Grace died before Arnold was elected governor of California - that's the sort of thing that she and I would have laughed about together. But since she wasn't here to laugh with me, it made me miss her. Thanks for reading, yer pal, byrd
Posted by: Byrd in LA at May 27, 2007 05:49 PMByrd,
This is a really sweet and loving tribute to your mom. How blessed you were to have had this woman in your life. Thank you for sharing this with us.
Peace.
Bridget
Posted by: Bridget at July 16, 2007 12:15 AM