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Wednesday 5 October 2016

Why I've been gone

I've been quite elusive recently, not posting, slow to respond or return visiting, not much reading, and generally I've been rubbish.

Truth is we have some serious family illness, the kind that doesn't have a happy ending.  It happens in all families at one point or another and my husband and I have been extremely lucky in our lives in that it has so rarely touched us.

But life continues, the sun still shines, the birds still sing, and the season is giving one last glorious burst of beauty before the long winter sleep.

It makes me think, who is this woman I have known for 27 years?  To me she is the mother in law I didn't choose who became my friend.  To her family she is the laughing sister who teased and played, the girl in the uniform of the Womens Royal Airforce in the war, the blushing bride who left her home in the south to live with her husband and family in the northeast of England.  She is Mother to two sons, she raised them, cared for them, taught them right from wrong.  She was there  to babysit her grandchildren, tell them stories of when she was a girl, with a handbag which always had sweets and pennies to bring a smile to their face.  More recently she has been Great Grandma, always smiling, there to listen, still with the handbag of sweets and pennies.

But the world turns, and her smile is fading.  To the children she will soon become a shadow, half remembered from pictures where she held them on her lap.  The older ones will have clearer memories which will be sparked when someone says 'do you remember' at family occasions and celebrations, or when someone produces a handbag with sweets and pennies.   She will remain in the hearts of her sons forever, this woman who made them what they are.  He husband's heart is breaking as his soulmate and bride of over 66 years is leaving him behind, and wishes he could go too, and her brother and sister cry for their laughing playmate, who teased them, argued with them, and was there is all their childhood memories.  

But the sun is still shining, the birds are still singing, autumn is still in it's final blaze of glory before the winter comes, and the world still turns.

So, no pics today, but maybe tomorrow, or the next day, I'm still here, just hurting.

Kate x


29 comments:

  1. Thanks for sharing this, Kate. I'll be praying for you and your family. Wendy at piecefulthoughtsATgmailDOTcom.

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  2. So sorry to hear about your sad event Kate. You're in my prayers

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  3. What a beautifully written tribute. My heart goes out to you and your family.

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  4. So sorry to hear this, Kate. What beautiful thoughts you written, though, about your mother-in-law. Praying for comfort for your family.

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  5. Hi,Kate! Just LOVE this. So poignantly moving. I understand. So difficult. Thinking of you and yours. Much Love, Fondly, Robin

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  6. You have a way with words - sorry it's not got a happy ending ((hugs)) take care x

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  7. Sounds like she is well loved. What a great thing to know. Your sentiment is absolutely lovely. You will be in my prayers

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  8. My heart aches for you and your family. You've written a beautiful tribute to your absence and the hole forming in your heart. And all I have to say about my absence from blogland is that I've had a toothache; seems trivial now. Blessings. Karen

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  9. What a wonderful tribute you wrote about your mother-in-law. Sympathy to you and your family.

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  10. What a wonderful tribute you wrote about your mother-in-law. Sympathy to you and your family.

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  11. oh I am so so sorry for the hard time your family is going through....

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  12. What a beautiful tribute to your mother in law.... thinking of you and your family at this time. X

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  13. A very touching tribute to your mother-in-law, Kate! My thoughts are with you and your family.
    Hugs, Barbara xx

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  14. Kate, I wish there was something any of us could do or say to make this time less difficult for all of your loved ones, but at least know that you are loved and many are praying for you and your family. What you wrote was beautiful.

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  15. What a poignant tribute to your mother in law. Beautifully written and so touching. I'm sorry for the pain you and your family are experiencing and hope you all find peace and warmth in the memories of his sweet woman.

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  16. Hugs to you all. What a lovely tribute.

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  17. Hugs to you all. What a lovely tribute.

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  18. she sounds like a fantastic woman and a true delight to t hose who knew and loved her.May the memories of her replace the sorrow of her passing.

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  19. Big hug to you and your family.This is a great tribute for her.

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  20. So sorry to hear. Thanks for sharing her story. Thinking of you and your family.

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  21. Sending you hugs and warm, healing thoughts, Kate.
    Preeti.

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  22. What a lovely tribute! It seems she was a beautiful, loving, giving, perfectly sweet mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, sister, wife. And the perfect mother-in-law to you, dear Kate. She was proud of you I'm sure, and loved you like a daughter. Hugs to you and to your Gary.

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  23. Kate, this is beautiful. Sending love and prayers to you and your family during this difficult time.

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  24. Loss is so difficult. My prayers are with the family in this difficult time. As you return to your sewing, may you find comfort and healing.

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  25. Big hug to you and your family Kate.

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  26. Oh Kate ......... sending you and your family love and peace at this terrible time. You are right the sun does still shine, the birds do still sing and the world does still turn but at times like this it seems unfair that these things still happen. In time those same things give solace. xx

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  27. Oh Kate: I am so sorry I missed this post due to my own busyness which kept me out of blog land a great deal of the time as well. My heart goes out to you and your family. I'll be thinking of you.

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Thank you so much for taking the time to read and leave a comment, it helps me grow as a quilter and as a blogger. It also makes me very happy :)
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With smiles from,
Kate