Today would have been my darling Mom’s 91st. I remember how excited I was last year to be travelling to South Africa to be at her 90th birthday party.
Family and friends surrounded her with love, and although her dementia meant she wasn’t really too aware of what was happening, we all rallied round and made it a really happy day. Little did we know that she would leave us only three months later.
Our sweet granddaughter Taylor was born on her great-grandma’s birthday, so in a way, they are forever bound together. I remember only three years ago when mom came to stay with us in our beach house for her 88th birthday, and we all chatted on Skype for Taylor’s 4th birthday. It’s so good to remember the happy times we had together
Mom loved nature and when we took her out, she would always remark on the beauty which she saw around her. She especially loved birds and butterflies, and when I woke up this morning, I received a WhatsApp message from my sister who lives very close to where mom lived and died; “Big butterfly in garden this morning. I think Mom’s come by to say hello!”
Happy Birthday to two very special people.
Wishing you all a lovely Thursday.
How lucky were you to have such a wonderful mother in your life for so many years and to have her memory to cherish for years to come. You have certainly picked up her love of nature and capture it so well to share with the rest of us. I know what you mean about butterflies. I lost my best friend to cancer in 2010. For some reason, every time I see a butterfly, I think of her telling me that she is ‘okay’
Thanks so much for your lovely comment, Lisa. So sorry about your best friend. I’m always happy to see a butterfly. xx
The party last year was a splendid landmark for a lovely and dear mother and family member. I am glad to know Taylor will carry her birthday forward, while angels may appear in various forms of winged messengers. ❤
Happy 5th belated birthday to Taylor. 🙂
Thanks so much, Robin. It’s so nice to see you again. I was thinking about you yesterday and wondering where you’d got to as I hadn’t seen any posts from you for a while. xx
I love these May birthday posts. My son just had his 13th birthday on May 23. He was born on his late grandmother’s birthday, that of my husband’s mother. Sadly, they never met. She passed away in 1989 before my husband and I had even met each other and our son wasn’t even a twinkle in anyone’s eye.
This year’s birthday was much quieter this year than one year ago, when he was having surgery for appendicitis just 3 days before he turned 12. We had to postpone his party for a few weeks!
Thank you for sharing the final celebration you were able to have with your mother. She sounds like a special person!
Thanks so much, Karen. She really was a very special person. It can’t have been much fun for your son last year. I hope he recovered quickly so he could enjoy his late birthday party.
Aw, bless. A lovely post with lovely memories, Sylvia.
Thanks, Tom. 🙂
Just want to add my hugs and empathy to all the rest. It will be 16 years next month since my mom passed at age 93. She lived with dementia the last dozen years of her life, most of them with my wife and I at our home because she could no longer care for herself.
Thanks so much for the hugs and empathy. Dementia is such an awful disease. So sorry that your mom also suffered with it.
Lovely memories Sylvia💕
Thanks, Seonaid. xx
What a beautiful post and tribute to your darling mum. Cherish all those special memories you have, they are priceless. Hugs to you. xo
Thanks so much. Miriam. 😄
Lovely Sylvia!
Thanks, Nicole.
Sylvia I am reaching through the screen this morning to give you a big hug. I so remember this time from last year. I love the message and photo your sister sent. How lovely is that vision? xoxo
Thanks my friend. The butterfly photo really bucked me up. I spoke to my sister today for her birthday and we also chatted about Mom of course. Her memory will always be alive in our hearts. 🙂 ❤
Absolutely Sylvia. So wonderful you and your sister can share your memories and love.
This is touching.
Thanks, dear Paula. xx
This post really touched me … Love your text and photos … Memories can be such a comfort …
This Sunday we celebrate mothers day here in Sweden … I don´t think mother remembers this day … But she still like a good party with a cake and lots of cockies … And I´ll try my very best to give her that …
XO from me to you … // Maria 🙂
Love and hugs to you too, Maria. Have a great Mothers’ Day. I’m sure your dear mother will enjoy being treated to cake and cookies. Mine always did. 🙂 xx
Beautiful way to remember one who was so loved.
Thanks so much, Pauline.
the Skype picture is precious – and how cool to carry on this date for the bday – awesome post and sending b-day wishes to granddaughter and mum who is looking down.
xoxo
Thanks for the lovely comment and birthday wishes, Yvette. xx
😉
Lovely memories! And what a great cake.
Thanks, Fi. 🙂
Lovely touching post for all of us.
Thanks so much, Adrian.
What a lovely remembrance and such happy memories. So touching too Sylvia
Thanks, Lisa. 🙂
Welcome back home to the sunshine state, Sylvia! You had a wonderful trip, no time to get bored 😏 or hungry with all those goodies!
Thanks, Helen. Yes the trip was really great. 🙂
What a lovely woman your mum was. She will always be remembered and all those memories will bring back great moments spent together 🙂
Yes she really was, Mabel. Thank you for your lovely comment. 🙂 xx
What a wonderful way to remember such a very special lady!
Thanks, Dries. Yes she was very special and much loved. 🙂
Lovely remembering of your mother.
Thanks, YC. She is in my heart always. 🙂
A bittersweet day for you Sylvia. At least you have good memories to look back on and more great memories to form with young Taylor on this day.
Thanks so much, Jude. Yes we have many years to make memories with our sweet granddaughter. 🙂
What a lovely tribute to your beautiful mother, Sylvia. Hugs my friend xxxx
Thanks so much, Dianne. xx
Sweet memories, Sylvia and yes, you’re right, they are bound together. Happy Birthday to them and a hug to you. 🙂 xx
Thanks, dear Marina. I’ll take the big hug. 🙂 xx
Yes lovely memories and they will be always there. I am going next week to see my mum to celebrate her 90th birthday!
Thanks so much, Ute. I wish you a very happy time with your mother. Happy 90th to her. 🙂
What a lovely thought about the butterfly, Ad! Where does the time go? Sending hugs 🙂
I thought so too, Jo. I hope I come back as something pretty. 😀 xx
You are sure to, lovely lady 🙂
❤
Your mother looks like such a lovely lady, Sylvia. I’m sure her birthday will always tug at your heart. How wonderful that she had her family to surround her and celebrate with her!
Thanks so much, Carol. I remember her every day, but I guess her birthday was an extra special day, especially as it’s also Taylor’s birthday. 🙂
Mens verlang mos maar elke jaar weer
Vir seker. 😕
Ahh, happy memories to treasure dear Sylvia.
Thanks so much, Gilly. 😘
Oh! I love this post so much! Happy tears. 🙂
Thanks so much, Jessica. 😘
Memories to forget never.
Thanks, Marylou. 🙂
Dementia takes so much away from a person, but it’s wonderful to think that your mom’s spirit may well abound in the beauty of a butterfly.
Yes it’s a terrible disease. It really cheered me up to see the butterfly from my sister. 🙂
butterflies are bearers of wonderful things, Sylvia and i truly believe your Mom came for a visit! beautiful birthday memories for two special people! happy birthday to both! 🙂
Thanks so much for your confirmation, Lola. I wish I’d been with my sister to see the beautiful butterfly. xx
Time flies . . .
So do butterflies . . .
Hope your memories provide you greater joy than sorrow.
So true. Nancy. Thank you. 🙂
Beautiful memories to keep and share with so many more generations to come for sure 🙂
Thanks, Andy. You’re right of course. 🙂
🙂
it may very well be so, that we go with our consciousness into all beings aroound us, when we die…
I love to imagine that this is so, Anand. After our father died, my sister kept seeing a particular bird in the tree outside her art studio. She said it was our dad come to give her inspiration for her painting. 🙂
A whole year already, wow… A beautiful capture for a beautiful soul. So glad you saw her last birthday and have the fondest of memories
Thanks so much, Kathy. Time really does fly. 😕
I remember your excitement last year, Sylvia. Happy Birthday to your sweet mother and your granddaughter…they are forever bound. xo
Thanks so much, Jill. 🙂 xx
These are very good memories …
Thanks for sharing with us precious moment of your life!
Yes they are, Anna. Thank you. 🙂
Memories Garden always green! What a coincidence about birthday of Taylor!
Thank you. Yes, they were born on the same date, but in a different time zone. 🙂
oh..! Still has very lucky coincidence!
A beautiful tribute to your dear mother, Sylvia. I too have a granddaughter called Taylor, and I too find poignant meaning in butterflies due to the loss of my grandson nearly five years ago and with who the association is made and lives on.
Thanks, Hariod. So sorry about the loss of your grandson. That must have been so hard to deal with. xx
What a beautiful mother. And what a lovely homage to her. That’s lovely that you got to see her for her 90th a year ago but it’s never easy to lose our mothers. Mine also slide away to dementia — she made it to 88. Sending you love and hugs today.
Thanks so much, Paulette. No it isn’t at all easy. Thanks for the love and hugs, which I send to you too. 🙂
Memories like these are bittersweet, Sylvia. You were so lucky to have your mom for so long and to have shared many happy occasions with her. Happy birthday to all!
Thanks so much, Cathy. Yes, I’m very grateful to have had her with us for so long. 🙂 xx