I drove the 100 miles from my childhood home today after doing something I'd been putting off for a while now--clearing out my mom's Wisconsin craft room.
I know it's been a while since she lost her battle with colon cancer, but the gravity of the task struck me when I first entered her untouched room. Shelves upon shelves of beautifully organized supplies, sorted by kit/collection in Iris drawers on wire shelving units awaited my attention. On her desk were three card bases ready to become greeting cards made by her hands with love. It was difficult to clear the surface. I felt so near to her at that moment, and I didn't want to disturb the memory. The passage of time has made it easier than it would have been.
Sorting through the supplies and deciding what to do with it all will be a task on my list for quite some time, but inevitably my thoughts shifted to my own craft cave at home and all of the riches within. How will I prepare for the day when I can leave it all behind in exchange for the incredible crafting opportunities that await me in eternity?
I'm not really sure that I have a point to this blog entry other than the following thoughts:
1. I really, really miss my mom. Especially today.
2. One day, someone will have to dispense with the crafting supplies that we've accumulated. I hope I don't leave him/her with too much of a mess!
3. One day, brothers and sisters will gather around a precious handmade scrapbook to remember, smile, laugh and cry. It's what we did today.
Life is short. Scrap on.
Tricia
Sorry about your mom.
ReplyDeleteTricia, I am moved to tears this morning. Thanks for sharing such a private moment with all of us.
ReplyDelete{{BiG HUGS!}} Your Mom's beautiful smile will live forever in your scrapbooks and memories.
Loss is always hard! Thank goodness we have memories and pictures for when memories fade!
ReplyDeleteHow fortunate you are to have such a deep and eternal bond with your mother. Thank you for sharing
ReplyDeleteI, too, was moved with tears. I remember when I was in charge of my mother's possesions. But, it was department high end clothing and 300 purses. She would spend out of loneliness. I have arranged that my supplies head to a women's shelter and the Boy's/Girls Club.
ReplyDeleteYou are much in my thoughts Tricia.
ReplyDeleteAnnetteD
Tricia...you were truly Blessed to have such a relationship with your Mom.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing.
Pat Czaplicki
I've helped with this in grand-parent situations and while I CAN imagine how it might be with my mom, it is so very hard to even think about and knowing how close you and Pat were I know it had to be the very definition of bittersweet to perform this task. Thank you for trusting us and sharing this experience and for giving us food for thought about legacy we might leave for our loved ones in our creative spaces. My heart is with you. Pat was a treasure and I'm grateful for having met her.
ReplyDeleteYou know, I think about these things way too much sometimes. My stuff, my mom's stuff even my grandmother's stuff. It's all just stuff-but yet...it isn't. Good luck in the continued cleaning, sorting, piling. You'll know who needs what I think when the time is right. Also think about people who might want a small something of your mom's but who may not have asked. It's a touchy subject.
ReplyDeleteTricia - you hit the nail on the head. Having lost both my parents some years ago, I can relate to exactly what you are feeling. Hugs to you my friend.
ReplyDeleteTricia: Thank you for sharing such a personal day with us. Having lost my mother when I was just 34 was difficult to say the least, and we have only a few pictures of her. Treasure the memories (and pictures) you have, they will get you through anything! Hugs to you! Mary
ReplyDeleteYou brought tears to my eyes. So sorry for your loss. Not a day goes by that I don't think about my Dad and how I miss him so much. He was are family historian. I treasure all his files about family history. Thanks for sharing your love for your Mom.
ReplyDeleteI remember meeting your mom at a Retreat years ago. She was a very nice woman who was very, very proud of her daughter.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this with us.
You brought tears to my eyes too. So glad you built such wonderful memories together.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Tricia, for a beautiful post about Mom. I was honored to meet her at the 2010 October Retreat (and got to have my picture taken with her, too!). As you know, I lost my Dad a year ago, and so I can totally relate - I miss him everyday. I'm sure Mom is looking down on you and smiling today!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your precious moments in your mom's space with her and reminding us all how our creations can provide comfort and joy beyond the limits of our far too short lives. What we create can be a blessing beyond our own space and time - what a happy thought even if it is bittersweet. Right there with you - scrap on!
ReplyDeleteTricia - I grieve with you . . . I miss my Mom too!
ReplyDeleteHugs to you Tricia.
ReplyDeleteHow beautiful! How special! Some of us never had a mother that shared an interest or the love of something so special and personal. You are a very lucky, special and blessed woman. Cherish what you have and share it with the next generation in your family. A legacy is all you get to leave behid, that counts.
ReplyDeleteLove You Tricia...
ReplyDeleteGood tears remembering my mom and all her photographs and art work left behind. Thanks for sharing this moment with us. Take all the time you need to decide what to keep and what to give to family and friends and what to donate. I'm so glad you had a lovely relationship with your mom and that she shared your passion for beautiful scrap pages, etc. If you haven't thought of it already, I suggest you put some kits away to scrap some of you daughter's journey. It would be a way to include your mom. Sending many hugs!
ReplyDeleteCher
I guess that's all any of us can hope for - that someone can feel close to us and miss us when the time comes to clean out our scrap rooms. As the mother of two boys, I don't think it will be quite the same.....
ReplyDeleteHugs to you and thanks for sharing!
Such a sweet post. I've inherited two deceased crafters's stashes and it is bittersweet. You can look over their things and see what they loved most. It speaks volumes.
ReplyDeleteAs for my craft stuff, when I die, hubby says he is going to use it to lure in a new wife.
What a beautiful post today, Tricia. Your mom was a wonderful person and I can see her walking around us at the Retreat and helping out. My heart goes out to you, big hug and your points are exactly minem but in the mean time lets enjoy crafting together!
ReplyDeleteOh Tricia ~ (((((HUGS))))) What a precious reminder that life is short and we all have to live it to it's fullest. I hope you find lots of lovely memories left to you by your Mom that you can enjoy and will comfort you in the years to come.
ReplyDeleteSending hugs Tricia.
ReplyDeleteI'm sitting here at work with tears in my eyes and missing my Mom, that feeling never goes away, not even after over 50 years. Sending hugs to you and your family, Tricia
ReplyDeleteRight now, I think my kids would rather torch the scrap room, than try to make any sense of it, still messy from PSL, sort of. :)
Well spoken Tricia, My husband and I talk of this often, I will scrap until I die, to get every memory down on paper for those left behind!
ReplyDeleteMy thoughts are with you today.
Vanessa in Fl.
Tricia - how sweet to write this loving remembrance of your Mom. I too had to sort through my Mom's treasures when she passed, so I know how you feel. I remember a quote that was shared and it's so true "The life given us by nature is short, but the memory of a well spent life is eternal".
ReplyDeleteSurely your Mom is eternal.
Oh Tricia, this really touched me in more ways than one. I am happy that I was able to go through most of my mom's belongings and help her purge or donate them while she was still alive. It will make it much easier to deal with the few things that are left behind because I know that she was able to chose who to gift with her treasures. As for me and my room full of "stuff"...sigh. I know that none of my children or family members will want any of it and I am trying like mad to use up as much as possible...and not add to the pile so that they aren't left with it all. (not having so much luck with the "not adding" part).
ReplyDeleteI know that your Mom's spirit is smiling down on you now.
I am touched at your sharing this memory with us, and how you have created more memories for your family too.
ReplyDeleteHelen -- Firenze Cards
Tricia,
ReplyDeleteOne of the hardest things I had to do the year after my Mom passed away was clean out her craft room. Every time I visited my Dad, he led me down there and had me deal with it, since he didn't know what things were or what should be done. It was painful, but also a glimpse into something that made her very happy. Thanks for sharing this bit of your experience.
My Mom and I attended one of the mini retreats in Minnesota and it is a good memory of crafting together.
Oh Tricia I was so touched by your post. Losing anyone is difficult, but my Dad's passing was the hardest thing i've ever faced (& still is). I'm sending hugs and prayers your way....thank you so much for sharing your story and touching my heart.
ReplyDeleteDearest Tricia,
ReplyDeleteGod works in mysterious ways! I sit today to read the blog, taking a break from sorting through Mom's crafting things, missing her so much & thinking how alone I felt, and low and behold I wasn't doing it by myself at all! Blessings to you my friend and thank you for sharing this moment.
Melitta who is missing her Mom Beverley very much this Mother's Day Month!