I am not too active here anymore, though I've been a part of the community through its various iterations since the year 2000 or so. I don't really have anyone close to talk to or any other outlet to vent these feelings, so I felt like doing it here among what I consider to be a good group of people
I have lived with my mother for 4 decades. The first two of those decades, she took care of me. The other two, we took care of one another. She has been a constant presence in my life from the moment I was born and though we sometimes had our issues, we loved each other very much even though we didn't always show it. She was diagnosed with lung cancer back in May and at 9:45pm last night, she lost that battle.
We were always a very Disney-centric family. Disney cartoons were always playing at our house when I was young. We visited Disney World often (my mom had hoped to be able to see the new Star Wars theme park before she died, but alas covid happened and made it impossible). I always wanted to grow up to be a Disney animator, making the same kind of beautiful animated movies Disney used to make in the 40's through the 90's. My sister works with the Walt Disney company and our entire living room and kitchen are decorated in Disney paraphernalia.
One of her favorite movies was the 1964 Disney classic, Mary Poppins. Last night, we watched Mary Poppins together for the very last time. I didn't know it was going to be her last night on Earth, but the timing was appropriate. She laid in her bed, unable to move or speak, watching the movie with me and several other members of my family. I don't know if she was able to comprehend what was happening around her, she had been unable to communicate for two days leading up to her passing. The ending of that film always made me feel a bit sad. The way Mary Poppins leaves the Banks family behind, floating off into the sky without saying goodbye having fulfilled her sense of duty, to the rousing, upbeat chorus of the Sherman Brothers' "Let's Go Fly a Kite". My mother stopped breathing at the very end of the movie while the song played over the end credits.
In many ways, I thought my mom was like Mary Poppins. Very serious most of the time, very dutiful. But always with a sense of understanding and caring. I sometimes wondered what Mary Poppins was. Maybe an alien or perhaps a witch of some sort. But I like to think of her as a guardian angel sent from heaven to protect the Banks family. I have no doubt my mother was my guardian angel, and she's now floating back to heaven, just like Mary Poppins at the end of the film.
I love you, mom. I'm sorry I didn't say it nearly enough.
I have lived with my mother for 4 decades. The first two of those decades, she took care of me. The other two, we took care of one another. She has been a constant presence in my life from the moment I was born and though we sometimes had our issues, we loved each other very much even though we didn't always show it. She was diagnosed with lung cancer back in May and at 9:45pm last night, she lost that battle.
We were always a very Disney-centric family. Disney cartoons were always playing at our house when I was young. We visited Disney World often (my mom had hoped to be able to see the new Star Wars theme park before she died, but alas covid happened and made it impossible). I always wanted to grow up to be a Disney animator, making the same kind of beautiful animated movies Disney used to make in the 40's through the 90's. My sister works with the Walt Disney company and our entire living room and kitchen are decorated in Disney paraphernalia.
One of her favorite movies was the 1964 Disney classic, Mary Poppins. Last night, we watched Mary Poppins together for the very last time. I didn't know it was going to be her last night on Earth, but the timing was appropriate. She laid in her bed, unable to move or speak, watching the movie with me and several other members of my family. I don't know if she was able to comprehend what was happening around her, she had been unable to communicate for two days leading up to her passing. The ending of that film always made me feel a bit sad. The way Mary Poppins leaves the Banks family behind, floating off into the sky without saying goodbye having fulfilled her sense of duty, to the rousing, upbeat chorus of the Sherman Brothers' "Let's Go Fly a Kite". My mother stopped breathing at the very end of the movie while the song played over the end credits.
In many ways, I thought my mom was like Mary Poppins. Very serious most of the time, very dutiful. But always with a sense of understanding and caring. I sometimes wondered what Mary Poppins was. Maybe an alien or perhaps a witch of some sort. But I like to think of her as a guardian angel sent from heaven to protect the Banks family. I have no doubt my mother was my guardian angel, and she's now floating back to heaven, just like Mary Poppins at the end of the film.
I love you, mom. I'm sorry I didn't say it nearly enough.
