wildmountainthyme

The Music of My Heart

It’s always around my mother’s birthday that the tiny pangs of sadness turn to harpoons of loss. She was the soundtrack of my life. The old playlist still makes its way into my consciousness more often than you might think for a grown woman. Yet, I cannot imagine so many of my life’s experiences without acknowledging my connection to them through a reference to her. When not permeated with music from the radio or record player, I could be sure to hear her lilting voice ringing through the quiet. Even now, when at a loss for what to say or do, I see her whispering in my mind’s eye – an attitude, some advice, encouragement, humor, some ridiculously silly thing – but always uniquely Máireád.

At the memorial service at her job, the troubled boys she worked with spoke of her always remembering their needs. She was like that. Her mantra, “If you see something needs to be done – do it!” daily skips through my memory. The boys took notice. They confided – she was the one they could count on for all the little things that made life bearable – nail clippers, lotion, chapstick, whatever. One boy laughed about the fact that she was so great at remembering everything except their names, he giggled, “She always called us Pat!” He didn’t know that she had their names on her heart a thousand times a day as she prayed for each and every one of them. What he thought was a name, Pat, was actually an Irish term of endearment, “Pet.” I hear her now, “Ah Pet,” empathetically, “Go on, Pet,” reassuringly. I can still feel her hand on my head, stroking my hair. I still feel her tiny framed embrace, her soft, healing hands, her loving grey eyes.

She died ten years ago, but her memory is strong. Pictures dot the walls of our home, and our memories keep her alive. My children and I note when we encounter some thing, some experience, some person she had loved. Tiny and mighty, vulnerable and brave, gentle and fierce, she was a perfect mass of contradictions with an immovable moral compass and indomitable spirit. Her legacy is the melody of my existence, imbued with the things she treasured most.

Ah Mom, I wish I could hold you one more time; feel your cheek on my shoulder one more time; breathe in the smell of your hair one more time; tell you how much I love you one more time. Is ceol mo chroí thú.

20 comments

  1. There is much I want to say. There is much that could be said. But none of my words or the standard words of consolation will come even close to assuage your current state of mind/heart.

    I can only pray…May your Mother always be the music of your heart. Someday your children might also pen something similar to this ode. Coz You are what your Mom was.

    God! There is a lump in my throat now!

    P.S. Is the picture your Mum’s? She is GORGEOUS!

    Reply

      • I’ve had ten years to think about it – that helps. My mom used to say “time heals all wounds” and while we never get over it, we do get to spend more time thinking about the memories instead of the pain. In relation to that quote though, she always added with a giggle, “Time also wounds all heels!” Like I said you start remembering more of the memories 🙂

  9. I feel your pain. I was also blessed with a beautiful Mother, I was 29when she passed, 28 years ago and I still think about her every day.❤️

    Reply

  11. I hardly have the words to describe my feelings here for my lovely sister Mairéad and your Mum, who bought me my first and only ever Mohair suit which she paid for out of her small wages at the time. She was then and still remains my Guardian Angel. I have no doubt she is proud of you and your family.
    Love
    Uncle Seamus

    Reply

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