This one's for you, Mom

A Mother’s Love's A Blessing

An Irish boy was leaving

Leaving his native home

Crossing the broad Atlantic

Once more he wished to roam

And as he was leaving his mother

Who was standing at the quay

She threw her arms around his waist

And this to him did say

A mother's love's a blessing

No matter where you roam

Keep her while she's living

You'll miss her when she's gone

Love her as in childhood

Though feeble old and grey

For you'll never miss your mother's love

Till she's buried beneath the clay

And as the years grow older

I'll settle down in life

And choose a nice young colleen

And take her for my wife

And as the babies grow older

And climb around my knee

I'll teach them the very same lesson

That my mother thought to me

A mother's love's a blessing

No matter where you roam

Keep her while she's living

You'll miss her when she's gone

Love her as in childhood

Though feeble old and grey

For you'll never miss your mother's love

Till she's buried beneath the clay

Happy Birthday to Me

My mother didn't think it was a proper birthday celebration without balloons. She insisted for everyone of her grandchildren's birthdays that my sister and I get balloons, and ditto for my daughter Lily's "Gotcha Day." Birthdays were important to my mother and that is why, despite the fact that I made it through her one year anniversary strong and without fuss, I am finding it hard to keep a dry eye today. It is my birthday. And despite the fact that there are people who have been kind and given me good wishes, it just doesn't feel like a real birthday without my mother, the woman who gave birth to me, for whom this day was truly special as only a mother can know.

I am alone. I have to face tragedy alone. I have to carve out happiness alone. I have to celebrate my birthdays alone. Being told "Happy Birthday" just isn't the same when the person for whom it was just as special is no longer with you. Oh, I know I could put some spin on it. I could decide to just be happy. And I have been doing that. I have been working hard at it. But today, I am sad. It is just too much for me. My grief is a truly physical burden which I am carrying around with me today until I can purge it in a bathtub soak and cry.