Stitch This

Tomorrow is the tenth anniversary of my Mother’s death from cancer. She was 69. Rather than be sad I wanted to remember some of the things she did – to recapture her spirit iyswim. She wasn’t perfect but it’s the flaws that make a person interesting.

• She knew all the words to The Mexican Hat Song and patiently spent ages teaching them to me. Elder thinks I’m a genius.
• She taught me to sew. When 12 and mumps-ridden she left me with a pattern, fabric and machine. I wore that dress to death.
• She made the best tiramisu ever. Ever.
• She used to comment on people forgetting they could hear her – ‘look at that woman, she gobbles like a turkey’ said on a plane with said woman two seats away on same row.
• She could demonstrate yoga moves after a 3 course dinner
• She spoke French and German, all self taught, after moving around while we were children due to my father’s job. She embraced the differences between nationalities (most of the time)
• She had a way with family resemblances – ‘you’ve got fingers just like mine. My mum always said I had chips for fingers’
• She could make a toadstool from an egg and a tomato.
• And mice from pears.
• She bothered to do it.

Not just once but all the time. She was a proper mother. I miss her so much I ache but by God I’m glad I had her. Lucky old me.