(For the record, there's no way i am clicking on that link of Russell's.)

I only met your Mum a couple of times but her strength, dignity and compassion were obvious and I admired her greatly.

I so, so love this.

I so, so love this.

Purple suede spike-heeled boots. So awesome. The funeral director is supposed to be sending me a copy of the dvd, and when they do I'll upload the tribute video. It was great. People were laughing so hard, and then behind me my cousin's daughter started?

The fourth, the fifth
The?

What a horrid thought – sorry if this is not the time or the place, but grief is a good and healthy thing. Wanting to wish away that all things have their time – and all things have their?

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is where I broke down. Such a lovely, tender, thoughtful piece Emma – thank you.

She is. You just can't hear her.

I have written before about my grandmothers, and the role they played in my life, and not a day goes by when I don't think?

Very sorry to hear about your mum, Emma. You certainly have written a beautiful tribute.

Craig, I understand what you're saying, but I understand Danielle's feeling too. I lost an uncle and an aunt within a few months of each other last year. They were both elderly and significantly disabled; I'm sure?

Thank you for sharing your sadness.

I didn't know your mum but I shall be thinking a lot about her today.

And I hope you keep talking to your Mum. For comfort, and because sometimes, she'll answer you. In your head, or in dreams, but she will.

I think I may have told this story hereabouts?

Sorry for your loss.

RIP Audrey.

arohanui

My greatest sympathy for your loss, Emma.

– a writer whose work I don't normally like -

Oh, I agree. And yet... we can't tell that story, in that way, until we know how and where it ends. And in telling such stories, we understand?

My father was a Kingfisher watching over me from the exact same spot on a wire every afternoon when I was busting a gut rushing to finish my thesis.?

a bit secret service

Emma, your wonderful paean for your mother – because it is a triumph song and a praise chant- moved me beyond glib words. It moved me into that dark place I never want to?

What I deeply appreciate about this ongoing thread is the different perspectives all of us mortal humans have, so please dont see this comment as any kind?

Something we as children did not have the privilege of doing.
All we got at my?

Im glad you were able even to just sit with her as death approached. And prepare in some way for the inevitable.

This was the up side of the cancer (not, possibly, a sentence that's been used very often). Mum had time?

Emma you write comedy and tradgey so well. Thank you for sharing with us.

Beautiful. Quite the elegant epitaph, in fact.

Sorry to hear that Joe. Thinking of you.

I explained that it was a privilege that we'd requested,

A very close family friend requested I be asked through her surviving partner to be a pallbearer. It is one of the most humbling and rewarding, albeit grief-stricken, experiences in my life. It?

I found the physical impact quite beyond words

I did a reading at every one of my grandparents' funerals, and I will always be thankful for that. If nothing else, it gave me a reason to not cry for the whole time.

When my father died, three of us were sitting there, waiting. Fairly relaxed about the process, he hadn't been happy about losing?

Aww, no fun. A Viking farewell by teddy bear is just the leaven of chaos I'd like for my final bow.

Everyone gets caught by some moment in this thread. I was OK up until this. That's lovely. My condolences Emma.

As my parents get older and frailer I know how my mother felt when I was a teenager and I went out with friends. When?

Reminded me of my dad's funeral (April last year), my 6-year-old niece was determined to read out few words she wrote down about her granddad and how she'd miss him. She seemed to be handling things pretty well, but there was still a suspicion she might change her?

and oh decorating the?

I've always threatened to send my Dad out to The Gambler. It's become such a thing that I may have to do it now.

Of?

I've looked, in vain, for this song mentioned previously in the thread, but it's not there. I know Kenny Rodgers sang it at his recent concert, but I've also seen it mentioned, somewhere , as the song somebody wanted?

It's more recent than that, anyway.

ETA: Unless you mean it was in Russell's post. But the above still applies....

"You gotta know when to hold 'em
know when to fold 'em
know when to walk away and?

It's a bugger we only ever have one Mum.

And suddenly the uncomprehending emotiveness and the forgetfulness?

and Emma – this is an extraordinary thread and many many lurkers have found it both helpful?

Emma ? this is an extraordinary thread and many many lurkers have found it both helpful and resonating to their own experiences. Losing your Mum was great grief, but as a word-alchemist, you have transmuted your grief into the rarest pounemu. Thank you.

I feel exactly what Islander says, and?

We are now at the lesser-discussed stage of grief known as Bureaucracy. I have a stack of will-related forms to fill in. I'm going back down to Mum's this weekend to help clear?

We do what we have to?

I've never been much for the "five stages of grief" theory. This situation went from "slighty off colour" to "deceased" in three days, and I had to make decisions on treatment, advised by what seemed like a confident doctor but who I now recall as?

My brother-in-law committed suicide a few days ago. Pretty much out of the blue, he was in a bad?

I don't quite know how this works, yet, but it sounds totally right.

Very?

And lest we forget Finn Higgins...

Truth is, we know less about our own minds than the farthest reaches of the universe,

Yeah but thats inanimate and easy. Living and capable of incredible acts of self deception, well, you need a good looong break to be able to deal with that.
And it's derided as navel?

My aunt survived, no major injuries apparently, but was trapped until?

I hope you have some good support around.

Take care.
Jack