Twelve months ago today my mum passed away. It had been a tough year for her—every doctor
was amazed at her endurance. Not
us. We knew our mum’s dogged strength
and her desire to prove every you’ve-one-to-three-months diagnosis wrong. So when this day came and she passed
peacefully, we said a quiet thank you.
I miss her every day; that hasn’t gotten easier. Not a week goes by without a dialogue
between sisters (I’m blessed to have three) which contains a variation of “Mum
would have loved that.” That could mean a movie, a stage show, a piece of juicy
gossip, or an anecdote about one of her grands or great-grands. The cheekier the behaviour, the better.
I’m not wanting to get maudlin—Mum would roll her eyes at
such sentimentality—plus this post is about more than one anniversary.
This week my Dad, if he were still with us, would have
turned 99. He would have celebrated with
several beers and a sly cigarette. I had
a beer for him but skipped the smoke.
Our middle son turned 29.
He celebrated with several Coke Zeros and much cake. We also celebrated the retirement of a super-special gentleman who has been driving #2 son to his special-needs school and day program for 24 years*. I was going to maths-up the miles involved—it's close to 100kms a day—but the task defeated me. *He's one of a small team of Community Transport drivers but the only one who's been there since J's first day of school.
We celebrated Father’s Day quietly on the back of the hub’s
latest adventure in chemotherapy.
This year also marks the 10-year anniversary of one of my highlights as an author. In 2006 my
three Princes of the Outback stories--The Rugged Loner, the Rich Stranger, the Ruthless Groom--were RITA finalists. I was reminded of this by the lovely folk at
Harlequin Australia who are re-releasing the trilogy this month with a gorgeous
new cover.
Let’s talk anniversaries and celebrations. Have you been celebrating or remembering
anything special, happy or sad, this week, this month, this year?
Hi Bronwyn
ReplyDeleteFirstly big hugs to you all we lost our Mum 14 years ago as yes I have 3 sisters and Mum and Dad come up a lot in our conversations and their grandkids talk about them all the time sadly they never got to meet any of their great grandkids and there are a few no I have 8and one of my sisters has 6. And I was presented with my 8th grandchild a couple of weeks ago and another red head :)My hubby was diagnosed with cancer when he was 39 he I now 61 and still going :)
Have Fun
Helen
Congrats on your latest grandchild, Helen. They may not have the pleasure of knowing your parents, sadly, but they have you as a grandmother. How lucky are they?!
Delete(Thank you for the "C" reassurance.)
Wow, Bron, what an up-and-down time for you -- so many things to remember, and so many others to celebrate. Your Mum sounds like an amazing woman, and you and your sisters are honouring her memory in such a beautiful way by talking about her so often and keeping her memory alive.
ReplyDeleteMy dad and I had a beer by the pool yesterday for Fathers Day and reminisced affectionately about family members no longer with us...but also giving thanks for those family members who've come after us. It was one of those bittersweet, but honestly lovely afternoons.
Mum was an amazing woman. I only wish I'd inherited more of her moxy! Whenever we talk about her, there are smiles as we acknowledge what she would be thinking/saying as she listened in...as we always imagine she is doing.
DeleteLovely way to spend Fathers' Day. Cheers.
Bron, big hugs to you and your family on all that you're dealing with, both current and in remembrance. And big cheers on the re-release of Princes of the Outback! That is such a beautifully written series and I'm so glad that it's being made available in print again so it can reach more keeper shelves.
ReplyDeleteRe celebrations, yesterday marked another Father's Day without my dad, which is always bittersweet, but on the swing-side, we have my eldest's wedding to look forward to in less than two weeks. Life is always about ups and downs, isn't it?
Hope you clinked glasses to remember your Dad with whatever tipple was his favourite (whether that be a cold or hot beverage.) That wedding is getting so close now. Exciting!!!
DeleteAnd YES to the ups and downs. That *is* life.
Lots of hugs to you, Bron. Losing a member of the family is so incredibly tough.
ReplyDeleteThat driver sounds like an angel.
I was getting married/on my honeymoon when Diana died.So sad.
I was published in August 2012, so I'm celebrating my 4th year published which is pretty exciting! And, I loved Princes of the Outback stories!!
He is an angel, true. He retired/sold his farm, moved to town, and within a week had his licence to drive the community transport taxi. And has only retired from that because of failing eyesight.
DeleteOh, wow, then you would truly remember where you were when Diana died. But Happy Wedding Anniversary and Happy First Sale Anniversary. Both splendid events to celebrate.
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ReplyDeleteHuge hugs, Bron for the losses you are remembering and for your family's current health concerns. Public celebration days can always bring poignant memories. Father's Day and Mother's Day were always very sad for me as I lost both parents quite some time ago (and my lovely stepmother). Becoming parents and being the father and mother celebrated by our daughter makes those days much happier for me.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on the release of Princes of the Outback. What a wonderfully evocative cover.
That's the thing isn't it Kandy? For all the celebrations of special holidays there are many, many others where those days are tinged with sadness, wistfulness, poignancy, and other more powerful emotions.
DeleteBron, I'm sending you big hugs. Anniversaries can be tough, can't they, and especially this one. I'm so glad you and your sisters spend time thinking about what your Mum would have liked, and that you had a beer for your Dad. I found myself on a recent trip taking photos of stuff my Dad would have liked, even though he's no longer her to see them.
ReplyDeleteWonderful to see that there are lovely things to celebrate in amongst the hard things. I'm spending my time now trying to focus on the things I can celebrate, even if they're little and that's nice. Actually, now I think about it, a little later this year will be the 10th anniversary of seeing my first Harlequin Presents book in print. There's something to smile about.
Here's hoping we have lots more nice anniversaries to celebrate.
That is a brilliant event to celebrate, Annie. Early congratulations on your 10th Presents Anniversary. That first book was the start of something wonderful, for you and for all your fans (count me as one!)
DeleteOMG Bron - that cover is awesome!!!! It's going to fly off the shelves here with how popular ruro is! I freaking loved loved loved those books. I have them all individually but I'm going to get me that compilation the next time I'm out at the shops!
ReplyDeleteHugs from me for the tough times. You look a lot like your Mum. How fab to have sisters around you too. Having my sister after Mum died was a lifeline.
FB showed me an old post of mine this week from 8 years ago where I'd just finished book 17!! 8 years and 42 books later I reckon that's something to be happy about!
I *do* bear more than a passing resemblance to Mum, more so than any of my sisters. Sadly I did not inheritance all her best qualities; I am far more introverted (not that this is a bad thing, but sometimes I wish for some of her social skills.)
Delete8 years and 42 books... That's amazing and truly worth celebrating with much pride. You are a rockstar.
What amazing moments for you, Bronwyn, very heart felt. This year my youngest grandchild has turned one, and my great-aunt is about to turn 106. Astonishing. On the reading side I just replaced my Kindle and discovered I've downloaded thousands of books. Golly, they're all waiting on the cloud but a huge amount are already read
ReplyDelete106!!! Wow, that is absolutely amazing. My great-grandmother, Mum's grannie, lived to 103 and one of my fondest childhood memories is of a special trip to Brisbane to celebrate her 100th. We all thought Mum would follow in her footsteps. Bloody cancer.
DeleteSorry, Bronwyn, that above comment flew out before I was ready... Bottom line, keep writing your amazing books and I can keep collecting them on my Kindle and otherwise in print! Your new cover is fabulous. Congratulations on such a fabulous milestone.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Malvina. I love it too.
Deletenice
ReplyDeleteThat is a truly gorgeous cover, Bronwyn! I'm sure it'll fly off the shelves. What a beautiful post, I can't imagine how tough it is to be without your mum. But how wonderful you can reminisce with your sisters.
ReplyDeleteWe're celebrating two years in Canada this month. It's gone crazy quick. Definitely an exciting time, but of course that means we're missing out on things back home, like helping my little sister celebrate her 30th birthday in a few weeks.
Two years? Where did that go! Our eldest son and daughter-in-law relocated to London early this year and while they love it, they too rue the things they miss out on...while spending everything they've gained by the move in flights home so as not to miss weddings etc. Luckily, with technology, it's much easier to be a part of the celebrations from afar. Not the same, I know, but a compromise.
DeleteLovely photo of you and your Mum and a great book cover.
ReplyDeleteYesterday was the 10th anniversary of my mum's death. Always a day I like to find somewhere quiet to remember her.
But this year, having moved house and had a kitchen renovation, I spent the day unpacking kitchen items. Some had been packed for many years, not having room in my previous kitchen. Mum, like me, was an avid collector of kitchen gadgets. We'd often laugh at things we'd bought and didn't know what on earth they were used for. The last small cylinder-shape box I opened contained a pewter 'Her Ladyship' wine bottle cork. Not much use now as most wine seems to have screw tops, so I put it in my charity shop 'pile'
Something drew me back to it - perhaps the weight of the box didn't feel right or perhaps something stronger, like invisible threads. I pulled out the cork and all the packaging around it and was knocked for six at what I found. Inside was a small carved wooden netsuke Mum had insisted on giving me the last time I saw her. An item I treasured, but somehow became lost during one of our many moves, causing much grief. It's now sitting proudly on a shelf in my kitchen - next to a ridiculous antique kitchen gadget we purchased on one of our last 'sorties'
Aww, Pam, you have made me well up. AGAIN. What a beautiful thing to happen, and on the anniversary of her passing. I think she was looking our for you, directing you to check that box again. I bet you smile every time you see that gadget.
ReplyDeleteMore hugs from me too, Bronwyn. What a roller coaster ride you're all having. I wish I had three sisters to share life with. At least my step daughter is close and we talk most days.
ReplyDeleteGo Princes of the Outback. Wonderful Aussie stories. And love the cover.
Thanks, Sue. Sisters are the best, whether they be sisters by birth or sisters by choosing. Go the sisterhood!
DeleteI'm a little delayed in my response since I'm just now catching up on blog posts.
ReplyDeleteAny how, lots of anniversaries/important dates there Bronwyn. In my experience, that first anniversary with Mum is the hardest.
I haven't read the Princes of the Outback titles so I'm going to be taking advantage of the re-release to pick it up.
As for the remembering special things question... it'll be 15 years next month since we lost Mum (way too young - she would have been 50 last December). This year has been quite a bittersweet one since we just lost one of my Great Uncles in mid-August, so I've witness 3 of my second cousins experiencing their first Father's Day without him in quick succession. On a more positive note, I'm looking forward to the fact that November will mark 3 years in my current job and as a side effect, 3 years since I finished my degree.