Today I was mulling over 'why' Mum had to die so 'young'. Then I thought about a post I had seen on Facebook the other day.
I feel it also applies to Mum & maybe (just maybe) there is an afterlife & she has come back to watch over me through Red Dog (Blake).
The guy who gave me this dog knew Mum & also knew how much I was grieving. Although a few people wanted to buy this dog, he chose to gift him to me.
As I type this, the red & white Kelpie X is sacked out under my desk, muzzle sitting on my foot. Would love to take a photo, but do not want to disturb him.
I have now had Blake for 11 months & while the memories of Mum will never go away, he has eased my grief a little, enough to put one foot in front of the other & continue on with life.
So for all of those who lose someone 'too soon' maybe this is a good way to look at why they were taken early. Helped me when I applied it to Mumzie, because THIS is how she viewed life.....
A Dog's Purpose?
(from a 6-year-old).
Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish
Wolfhound named Belker. The dog's owners, Ron, his wife Lisa , and
their little boy Shane, were all very attached to Belker, and they were hoping for a miracle.
I examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer. I told the family
we couldn't do anything for Belker, and offered to perform the
euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home.
As we made
arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it would be good for
six-year-old Shane to observe the procedure. They felt as though Shane
might learn something from the experience.
The next day, I felt
the familiar catch in my throat as Belker 's family surrounded him.
Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time, that I
wondered if he understood what was going on. Within a few minutes,
Belker slipped peacefully away.
The little boy seemed to accept
Belker's transition without any difficulty or confusion. We sat
together for a while after Belker's Death, wondering aloud about the sad
fact that animal lives are shorter than human lives.
Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, ''I know why.''
Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned
me. I'd never heard a more comforting explanation. It has changed the
way I try and live.
He said,''People are born so that they can
learn how to live a good life -- like loving everybody all the time and
being nice, right?'' The Six-year-old continued,
''Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long.''
Live simply.
Love generously.
Care deeply.
Speak kindly.
Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like:
When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.
Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.
Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure Ecstasy.
Take naps.
Stretch before rising.
Run, romp, and play daily.
Thrive on attention and let people touch you.
Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.
On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.
On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.
When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.
Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.
Be loyal.
Never pretend to be something you're not.
If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.
When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by, and nuzzle them gently.
There comes a time in life, when you walk away from all the drama and
people who create it. You surround yourself with people who make you
laugh, forget the bad, and focus on the good. So, love the people who
treat you right. Think good thoughts for the ones who don't. Life is too
short to be anything but happy. Falling down is part of LIFE...Getting
back up is LIVING...
Have a great life.
This IS EXACTLY how Mum lived.....
Saturday 12 January 2013
Friday 4 May 2012
Postcrossing
Fun project I have become involved in recently. Well set up & lot's of fun. Makes a great change than getting bills in the mail!
My favourite card I have recieved to date : )
San Francisco Postcard
Sunday 11 December 2011
Shamelessly stolen, but too amusing not to share : )
Just thought I'd pass on some totally useless, yet amusing trivia about critters:
A pig's orgasm lasts 30 minutes. (OMG!!!)
A cockroach will live nine days without its head before it starves to death (Creepy. I'm still not over the pig.)
The male praying mantis cannot copulate while its head is attached to its body. The female initiates sex by ripping the male's head off. (Honey, I'm home. What the...?)
The flea can jump 350 times its body length. It's like a human jumping the length of a football field. (30 minutes. Lucky pig! Can you imagine?)
The catfish has over 27,000 taste buds. (What could be so tasty on the bottom of a pond?)
Some lions mate over 50 times a day. (I still can't believe that pig...quality over quantity.)
Butterflies taste with their feet. (Something I always wanted to know.) Elephants are the only animals that cannot jump. (Okay, so that would be a good thing.)
A cat's urine glows under a black light. (I wonder how much the government paid to figure that out.)
An ostrich's eye is bigger than its brain. (I know some people like that.)
Starfish have no brains. (I know some people like that, too.)
Polar bears are left-handed. (Talk about a southpaw.)
Humans and dolphins are the only species that have sex for pleasure. (What about that pig? Do the dolphins know about the pig?)
Now that you've smiled at least once, it's your turn to spread these crazy facts :D
A pig's orgasm lasts 30 minutes. (OMG!!!)
A cockroach will live nine days without its head before it starves to death (Creepy. I'm still not over the pig.)
The male praying mantis cannot copulate while its head is attached to its body. The female initiates sex by ripping the male's head off. (Honey, I'm home. What the...?)
The flea can jump 350 times its body length. It's like a human jumping the length of a football field. (30 minutes. Lucky pig! Can you imagine?)
The catfish has over 27,000 taste buds. (What could be so tasty on the bottom of a pond?)
Some lions mate over 50 times a day. (I still can't believe that pig...quality over quantity.)
Butterflies taste with their feet. (Something I always wanted to know.) Elephants are the only animals that cannot jump. (Okay, so that would be a good thing.)
A cat's urine glows under a black light. (I wonder how much the government paid to figure that out.)
An ostrich's eye is bigger than its brain. (I know some people like that.)
Starfish have no brains. (I know some people like that, too.)
Polar bears are left-handed. (Talk about a southpaw.)
Humans and dolphins are the only species that have sex for pleasure. (What about that pig? Do the dolphins know about the pig?)
Now that you've smiled at least once, it's your turn to spread these crazy facts :D
Friday 2 December 2011
Back - by popular demand.....
Been abit quiet on the blog post's lately - a myriad of 'excuses' or 'reasons', but no, i'm not going into detail.
Today i'm committing the crime of being inside, on a gorgeous sunny summer arvo & am facespacing (facebook) & playing around with the Lake Bonney Yacht Club Facebook Page page & learning how to link pages & add like buttons & the like....
Monday 10 October 2011
Wednesday 5 October 2011
Au Revoir Mummy
A copy of what I wrote & read out on 28th September....
Here is my brief (or maybe not so brief) outline of the 26years I got to share with you.
If Mummy had a fault, it was for being TOO caring. You compressed more into 56yrs than most do in a 1/4 of that time.
Just how do you say goodbye to your best friend? You don't, you say au revoir 'until we meet again' - you were always teaching me little things like that....
Apparently when you complained about me having such a strong will from a young age you were told "well if you teach your child to think, what did you expect!"
In many ways Mummy has been a pioneer for women in rural areas, namely Mildura & the Riverland & Mallee. What I mean is, can you recall any other woman in the Riverland who changed careers mid life from being a mental health & registered nurse in (2 or was it 3 states?), to being a rural financial counsellor in a very culturally diverse region. Who can count the amount of actual jobs that entailed? counsellor, finance wizard, social security guru & a religious diplomat just to name a few
She held down a full time job, furthered her training & education, dropped everything when I was ill, had another child, made ALL our clothes, maintained numerous friendships, became a Justice of the Peace, (advanced?) a double diploma in Horticulture & encouraged many woman into the work force or to re-train & excel in their previous careers after having kids . She taught James & I to cook & cook well. She rarely if ever took a sick day or any annual leave for herself, opting to save them up so she could take time off when I was in hospital. To quote one doctor "you were in & out of here like a yo-yo".
I remember she used a week of leave to go to Sydney to undertake a special week long course so she could help James with his dyslexia. This meant he did not have to be held back a year in primary school - how many mothers do you know who did something like that? This is just another example of many.
As most of you know I have, to this day, many health issues, starting with a birth defect which even today still only has a 2-3% survival rate. Rather than move to Adelaide where she could have gotten assistance with home care, she opted to be the earth mother she had planned to be whilst pregnant. By this I mean she did hours of research, utilised her nursing training & amazing cooking skills to cater to my multiple food allergies (no allergen warnings or bold print back then!)
I'd now like to make a few thankyous. Firstly a special thanks to Brian & Cheryl for dropping what they were doing & getting me through the first 48hours of hell.
Most of us moan & groan over small town politics & the gossip it can create, but in times of crises familiar faces were a help rather than a hindrance & on that note I'd like to thank the SASS & CFS for their help, twice, in 24hrs.
My thanks also to my Aunt Aleksandra & Uncle Adam for their part in everything. Adam & his partner Lisa for looking after my brother James & Eunjeong when they got to Adelaide. They were all then able to lend support to Mum's soul mate, David, who is still in the Royal Adelaide.
Thanks to my brother James, I know we haven't always had the easiest of relationships, but it's reassuring to know I can count on you when I really needed to.
To Dianne & Mark Morgan & their family for holding my hands, guiding, counselling, feeding, chauffeuring & the much needed cuddles over a 10 day period.
Mark is a very patient man who bit his tongue & allowed Dianne to care for me above & beyond the call of duty. I can only describe her as proof that angel's come in mortal form & walk on this earth.
Finally to thank the wonder woman who brought us here today to this time in our lives - to most of you she was Sara, for me she has been Mum, Mummy, Mumzie, Mumzilla &, on occasion, "you bitch!"
As I scrawl this in our favourite pencil for doing the That's Life Puzzles on your old rural counselling stationery (you lived up to your childhood nickname of Squirrel right to the end) I remember the good times & the one's I cringe to recall.
You taught me many things in life, life skills, but most importantly; morals & ethics.
You didn't give your true love & time to anyone who did not deserve it. To those you did give your heart to, such as your soul mate David, myself & James, you did with your whole heart.
I don't resent you for leaving me @ the time & way you had to, possibly because you have already taught me the skills of life - mental & physical.
Even on my most horrid days, you were eventually able to sooth me in your ample chest, with gentle words & gentle hands. I recall one night when we were up in the early hours talking, after I had had a horrid day medical wise, when you mentioned that someone had admonished you for putting up with my behaviour. You kindly & patiently explained to me that they didn't understand my asthma, allergies, eczema & the hole in my diaphragm when I was born & the challenges they threw me each & every day.
You explained that if I was missing an arm or a leg it would be obvious, but as most of it is hidden, they would never understand - best described by the Swordfish movie quote "what the eyes see & the ears hear, the mind believes". You finished with telling me whilst you did not always love my behaviour, you never stopped loving me as your child. I think that is the true measure of a mother's love for their child.
I thank her for sharing with me just some of that amazing mind & for actually telling me how proud she was of me, to me. It meant the world.
Love you Mummy.
If Mummy had a fault, it was for being TOO caring. You compressed more into 56yrs than most do in a 1/4 of that time.
Just how do you say goodbye to your best friend? You don't, you say au revoir 'until we meet again' - you were always teaching me little things like that....
Apparently when you complained about me having such a strong will from a young age you were told "well if you teach your child to think, what did you expect!"
In many ways Mummy has been a pioneer for women in rural areas, namely Mildura & the Riverland & Mallee. What I mean is, can you recall any other woman in the Riverland who changed careers mid life from being a mental health & registered nurse in (2 or was it 3 states?), to being a rural financial counsellor in a very culturally diverse region. Who can count the amount of actual jobs that entailed? counsellor, finance wizard, social security guru & a religious diplomat just to name a few
She held down a full time job, furthered her training & education, dropped everything when I was ill, had another child, made ALL our clothes, maintained numerous friendships, became a Justice of the Peace, (advanced?) a double diploma in Horticulture & encouraged many woman into the work force or to re-train & excel in their previous careers after having kids . She taught James & I to cook & cook well. She rarely if ever took a sick day or any annual leave for herself, opting to save them up so she could take time off when I was in hospital. To quote one doctor "you were in & out of here like a yo-yo".
I remember she used a week of leave to go to Sydney to undertake a special week long course so she could help James with his dyslexia. This meant he did not have to be held back a year in primary school - how many mothers do you know who did something like that? This is just another example of many.
As most of you know I have, to this day, many health issues, starting with a birth defect which even today still only has a 2-3% survival rate. Rather than move to Adelaide where she could have gotten assistance with home care, she opted to be the earth mother she had planned to be whilst pregnant. By this I mean she did hours of research, utilised her nursing training & amazing cooking skills to cater to my multiple food allergies (no allergen warnings or bold print back then!)
I'd now like to make a few thankyous. Firstly a special thanks to Brian & Cheryl for dropping what they were doing & getting me through the first 48hours of hell.
Most of us moan & groan over small town politics & the gossip it can create, but in times of crises familiar faces were a help rather than a hindrance & on that note I'd like to thank the SASS & CFS for their help, twice, in 24hrs.
My thanks also to my Aunt Aleksandra & Uncle Adam for their part in everything. Adam & his partner Lisa for looking after my brother James & Eunjeong when they got to Adelaide. They were all then able to lend support to Mum's soul mate, David, who is still in the Royal Adelaide.
Thanks to my brother James, I know we haven't always had the easiest of relationships, but it's reassuring to know I can count on you when I really needed to.
To Dianne & Mark Morgan & their family for holding my hands, guiding, counselling, feeding, chauffeuring & the much needed cuddles over a 10 day period.
Mark is a very patient man who bit his tongue & allowed Dianne to care for me above & beyond the call of duty. I can only describe her as proof that angel's come in mortal form & walk on this earth.
Finally to thank the wonder woman who brought us here today to this time in our lives - to most of you she was Sara, for me she has been Mum, Mummy, Mumzie, Mumzilla &, on occasion, "you bitch!"
As I scrawl this in our favourite pencil for doing the That's Life Puzzles on your old rural counselling stationery (you lived up to your childhood nickname of Squirrel right to the end) I remember the good times & the one's I cringe to recall.
You taught me many things in life, life skills, but most importantly; morals & ethics.
You didn't give your true love & time to anyone who did not deserve it. To those you did give your heart to, such as your soul mate David, myself & James, you did with your whole heart.
I don't resent you for leaving me @ the time & way you had to, possibly because you have already taught me the skills of life - mental & physical.
Even on my most horrid days, you were eventually able to sooth me in your ample chest, with gentle words & gentle hands. I recall one night when we were up in the early hours talking, after I had had a horrid day medical wise, when you mentioned that someone had admonished you for putting up with my behaviour. You kindly & patiently explained to me that they didn't understand my asthma, allergies, eczema & the hole in my diaphragm when I was born & the challenges they threw me each & every day.
You explained that if I was missing an arm or a leg it would be obvious, but as most of it is hidden, they would never understand - best described by the Swordfish movie quote "what the eyes see & the ears hear, the mind believes". You finished with telling me whilst you did not always love my behaviour, you never stopped loving me as your child. I think that is the true measure of a mother's love for their child.
I thank her for sharing with me just some of that amazing mind & for actually telling me how proud she was of me, to me. It meant the world.
Love you Mummy.
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