The thing that hit me hard was that a whole major part of my life was over.
Now it’s time to write a new chapter.
But that doesn’t mean the new chapter will take away all the memories or the feelings that go with it.
I’ve grieved grandparents, my dog Max and love relationships and it’s painful because memories come back swiftly, when you least expect it.
A familiar song, a place you shared together, smells, images…grief can hit you like a pound of bricks and tears flow like crazy.
HER HOMETOWN – MELBOURNE, ONTARIO CANADA
Being called Jane Marie (instead of Jane, which is the name I knew her for) when we would visit her hometown where she grew up in Southwestern Ontario.
Driving to Melbourne and the first person who would see the blue water tower.
The Melbourne Fall fair
HER MARRIAGE
Being a role model to me and others who witnessed her strong marriage.
Her love for my dad and her commitment to her marriage and family.
When I asked what the secret was, she said early on after a miscarriage my dad and her had gone to counselling and realized they communicated differently, so she embraced that and it helped her understand my dad better.
Visiting me in England and being on the phone with dad every night.
HER BEAUTIFUL WAY AS A MOTHER, GRANDMOTHER. FRIEND AND HOW SHE GRACED OUR HOME
Pancake dinners
Being a caretaker to me whenever I was sick.
Making dinners for us
Supporting me and my unconventional path in not marrying right away.
Never questioning my commitment to travel, freedom and exploration, adventure above finding someone to marry at a young age.
Delphine’s flowers
Her perfectionism in her house.
Homemade stockings
Trips to Mexico
March break trips
Birthday morning bedroom presents
Her love of being a teacher
Her ability to stay in connection with so many friends and I mean the amount of hour long phone calls with good friends to listen even after they saw each other the day before.
I will always remember after she had chemo and she was bald with no eyelashes and we went into her bedroom and she asked me to show me how to put eyeliner on her, she was so thankful and looked so beautiful.
ALWAYS IN MY HEART
A part of her lives on in me.
A part of her lives on in everyone who loved her.
My wish for everyone is to embrace and honour the grief they feel and know that it means whoever you are grieving deeply touched you.
And how amazing is it to feel the physical and emotional power of your feelings.