The house is full of flowers

The house is full of flowers because Mum is gone.

She wore the new shirt I gave her for Christmas but she never got to see how pretty she looked in it.

Red roses and rosaries; a white-haired priest with an Irish accent.

A man in a frock coat walked down the road in front of the hearse while the summer sun beat down.

Black dresses and sunburn. Hot little boys with sweaty heads.

Her children following the hearse, just the four of us alone together. My brother drove and swore; my sister couldn’t remember what day it was. We laughed and cried in that contrary way people do, battered by grief.

Contrary like her. Artist and mother; creator of books and babies, the heart of our family. Both stubborn and passionate; unsentimental and loving. Champion worrier to the end.

On Monday night my sister told her everything was in order and she could stop worrying. Tuesday morning she was gone.

Even 87 years was not enough.

The house is full of flowers and I will miss her all the rest of my life.

Bookmark the permalink.

7 Responses to The house is full of flowers

  1. So sorry to hear this! May you find peace and comfort.

  2. Jaye Patrick says:

    My deepest condolences, Marina. May you always feel her warmth around you and her love inside you. Know she is walking beside you with a smile.

  3. Marina says:

    Thank you both for your kind words.

  4. Jo says:

    I’m so sorry for your loss Marina, I missed this post I’m afraid, so I am a bit late in my condolences. Christmas is such a rotten time to lose anyone. How are all the ducks handling it?

  5. Pandababy says:

    Condolences to you and your family. Nothing can replace a mother. May you find joy in your memories of her and comfort in the many ways she will always be a part of your life.

  6. Marina says:

    Thank you, Jo. The ducklings are doing very well. Even Baby Duck is old enough to understand that Gran is better off now. Also she was sick for a long time so we’ve all had some time to prepare for it, which helps a little.

  7. Marina says:

    Thank you, Pandababy. It’s good to “see” you again.