Contributed by: Andrea Webb
As the end of her years draws near after 1022 Full Moons - I
realize how wonderful of a life my Mother has lived. Today as I walked
with a heavy heart discussing her few remaining days in great pain, the
gentleman I was with mentioned to me the great celebration of the 1000 full
moons. I had not heard of this before and suddenly I realized all the
wonderful memories woven into a tapestry in my Mother's life bringing her to
this last full moon - not alone, but complete and fulfilled with a life lived
in the way a life should be, intricate - complex- peaks of highs and lows - but
overall - she had all of the experiences that could simply be called living.
I turn back the moons to the earlier full moons in my Mother's life as a little girl in Germany - displaced by the horrors of WWII - losing her family members and leaving behind loved ones. A move to her homeland of Switzerland to a refugee camp where the next best offer was a move to Canada - to homestead a farm for five years outside of Montreal. Cold winters on a foreign land, the loss of her Father, the companionship and friendship of the other Swiss children, who remain her friends 1000 full moons later....
Then a chance meeting with a debonair Argentine Diplomat on his first posting - my Mother's beauty and charm captures him - despite ups and downs - the loss of a child, they stayed married until death did them part. They traveled the world together, living in many countries and seeing many wonderful cities, cultures, people, and nurturing lifelong friendships along the way. As news of my Mother's last days spread around the world, the calls started to come in from friends all over the world - sweet chances at reliving these memories they shared and having the opportunity to tell her how very much they meant to one another, a last goodbye, a chance to say things that had been left unsaid....
I come to see my Mother here at the end of the Full Moons - surrounded by friends calling - and the strength of her character and the lasting impressions she made - are all examples to me, to live, to live a full life and to continue to follow her footsteps. Building bridges with my friends and loved ones, traveling, helping others, giving, and watching every single night with a new appreciation...because..to be honest, life didn't weigh the same to me a few months ago as it does now. Only now that I see a life that is very precious to me slipping slowly away as I stand afar and can do nothing to change this, that I finally can appreciate the life she gave me..and perhaps - now - I will treasure being alive and being in the moment and be able to look forwards to my 1000th full moon.
Andrea Webb
I turn back the moons to the earlier full moons in my Mother's life as a little girl in Germany - displaced by the horrors of WWII - losing her family members and leaving behind loved ones. A move to her homeland of Switzerland to a refugee camp where the next best offer was a move to Canada - to homestead a farm for five years outside of Montreal. Cold winters on a foreign land, the loss of her Father, the companionship and friendship of the other Swiss children, who remain her friends 1000 full moons later....
Then a chance meeting with a debonair Argentine Diplomat on his first posting - my Mother's beauty and charm captures him - despite ups and downs - the loss of a child, they stayed married until death did them part. They traveled the world together, living in many countries and seeing many wonderful cities, cultures, people, and nurturing lifelong friendships along the way. As news of my Mother's last days spread around the world, the calls started to come in from friends all over the world - sweet chances at reliving these memories they shared and having the opportunity to tell her how very much they meant to one another, a last goodbye, a chance to say things that had been left unsaid....
I come to see my Mother here at the end of the Full Moons - surrounded by friends calling - and the strength of her character and the lasting impressions she made - are all examples to me, to live, to live a full life and to continue to follow her footsteps. Building bridges with my friends and loved ones, traveling, helping others, giving, and watching every single night with a new appreciation...because..to be honest, life didn't weigh the same to me a few months ago as it does now. Only now that I see a life that is very precious to me slipping slowly away as I stand afar and can do nothing to change this, that I finally can appreciate the life she gave me..and perhaps - now - I will treasure being alive and being in the moment and be able to look forwards to my 1000th full moon.
Andrea Webb
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