It is one year since my family lost our mother. Her loss, after an incredibly full and wonderfully lived life, is made even more impactful to me — one year later — by what transpired in the year since: Think of your life back in February of 2020. Could you have imagined the year that would follow? Separation from family and friends. Division brought on by political and national strife. The loss of all normality. Isolation.
My mother’s funeral was one of the last social gatherings I attended. A month later I … we … began the long slog. Masks. Work at home. Canceled parties. Canceled vacations. Zoom, Skype, Teams, FaceTime. Hunkered down. And that short list of annoyances ignores those who have been truly devastated by this virus — those who’ve lost their lives … and those who’ve lost the people that made their lives joyful and whole.
Here, on the eve of the one year anniversary of my mother’s passing, I realize there is yet another infuriating, insidious slap in the face I’ve received from this stupid pandemic: The isolation and the madness of COVID has also tried to steal memories along the way.
In a normal 2020, my family would have had so many opportunities to be physically together — and inevitably we would have shared countless recollections of Mom … and Dad … and family. Stories would have been told. Memories shared. It would have been glorious, and happy, and healing.
Memories fade if they’re not shared. One of the side benefits any writer can take to heart is that — no matter his or her abilities, and whether or not anyone else reads their work — their writing establishes a remembrance and a record for themselves. A chiseled mark into a personal keystone.
Which is why I’m grateful that last year I wrote this:
Hard to believe… 1 year. She is alive as ever in my memory. Thanks for putting these thoughts down so much better than any of us could have.
She was very unique, supportive, and special. You were incredibly fortunate o have her as your mother.
She was very unique, special, and supportive.
David,
That was so well written, and a beautiful tribute to your mother. She was a remarkable woman and will always hold a special place in my heart.
Thank you David for expressing what many of us could not well illuminate. Your mom had a positive influence, I feel, far greater than the circle of people we now know as family. Last year’s write up of her first USO performance was impactful for me. What I came away with was the sense of a person who inspires many by her presence. This was a part of her until death. Our remembrance of her can only serve to spur our positive efforts.