Floods of memories engulfed me when I finally plucked up the courage to go through Mom Lily's personal belongings two days ago, almost a year after she went to her forever home.
It really felt like an intrusion going through her notebooks where she wrote down her deepest thoughts. Mom loved writing, but the awful tumour eventually took away that ability, so she would dictate and I would write down good memories and fun incidents from a long time ago.
I found letters to her siblings who had passed away, written in one of those books. These she never shared.
Mom was the queen of decluttering - if she had not used something in a long while, out it would go and be passed on to someone who could make use of it.
This is becoming my motto, no more hoarding stuff in case of a rainy day! Actually feels like a heavy load is lifted once you start clearing out unnecessary goods.
Naturally having this philosophy, there was not much material stuff to sort out after she left us, but I discovered one thing that she held on to, even though she could no longer use it.
While going through Mom's bedside pedestal, I came across an item wrapped in a cloth and as I picked it up, I immediately knew what it was, and the tears started flowing.
It was her fishing reel, a tangible reminder of annual fishing holidays, camping in tents, and later on a camper trailer that my Dad custom-built, with me and my four brothers. Those were wonderful carefree days when we would go away for three whole weeks. Mom often showed the menfolk up and would hook the biggest fish of the day, even though they spent way more time preparing and studying the moon phases and the tides ;)
The floodwaters would not stop after seeing that reel, and the longing to have just one more conversation engulfed me.
The Reel
This will be our first Christmas without Mom, who was a legend even while she was alive.
My cookie tins would have been filled by now as that tiny figure, with a larger-than-life presence, would have ordered me into the kitchen. They say dynamite comes in small packages, and it certainly rang true for Mom.
Reeling with shock...
...is how many of us can describe the past two years and to top it all, Crypto has been hit from all sides.
However, I believe now is the time to really dig in and keep this blockchain active, even though life is beyond crazy at the moment with year-end celebrations and holiday closures.
Those of us who celebrate Christmas, are hard at work planning menus, and making mince pies, cookies, and Christmas cakes, for the gathering of the clan.
Our family's focus is not on gifts, it's more on togetherness and the reason why we celebrate this special day, which we will spend with my sister-in-law's awesome family.
The three sisters may even end up trying to teach us how to dance the Scottish Reel as they did when they were growing up, although that would be a real hoot as most of us are either sporting full mops of silver or starting with a couple of silver strands :)
I hope to share some Christmas goodies with you next time, but until then, stay safe during this crazy silly season, and keep on reeling in the good times here in Hive.
Original Content by @lizelle
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