ABBREVIATE OR AMPLIFY?

Tuesday, 8 May 2012 ~ ABBREVIATE OR AMPLIFY?

Did you know that the official abbreviation for the month of June is Jun?  You need to be in a real hurry, one would think.  The thing about the month of May is that the official abbreviation for May is, May.  One can see immediately, that the angst of making any abbreviating decisions, and related indiscretions, has been eliminated.

This particular day, 8 May 2012, is the second anniversary of my dear old mum’s passing.  I, with my sister, was at her bed side when she left.  I was grateful for that because my sister and I live in Canada and mum lived in England; just outside her beloved Liverpool in a town called Runcorn.  Within 48 hours, our spouses were with us.  We had 2 weeks to clear out mum’s house.  The 4 of us abbreviated my mother’s whole life of 72 years, 6 months and 6 days in to 2 weeks.  The emotions of overwhelming sadness and guilt for what, and how, we were ‘abbreviating’ mum and her history is beyond words for this entry.  What was important was that nothing got wasted.  There is nothing sadder than a life wasted.  Most of the furniture went to charity; as did mum’s extensive wardrobe with some of the most exquisite robes that date back to the 1960’s.  Yes, it was like a time warp.  A trip back in to our childhood when we last saw the young and vibrant mum dressed to kill with dad on her arm.  I brought home some furniture that has some sentimental value.  I also brought home my mums’ life; her photographs and her music… including all the vinyl.

Today is not a day to abbreviate my mum’s life.  Today is a day to amplify my mum’s life, with music, and a wander through the mists of time in the endless photo albums that she made with such care; including all the comments! 

Go out there and amplify someone today.  And remember; it’s Mother’s Day in just 5 more days’ time.  Sunday 13 May 2012 is a day to honour our mothers.  I have done that today for mine.