Two weeks until I move! And a poem...

Last December I applied for and got a job in a town about 148.9 km (92.5 miles) away from me. I got it, and start in just over 3 weeks. I start moving my stuff over there in 2 weeks! This is the first time in 30 years that I have moved by myself (and definitely could not have got this far without a LOT of help from my family and friends!)... and it is definitely the farthest move I've done in over 35 years... this time is different as well, as I have a house to sell, and another to buy --- I've not done that before, and am just hoping that things go alright.  So, be aware that there will be lots of posts in the future about my new place, but not for quite a while, as I expect there to be a 4 month period between starting to sell, and getting the keys to my new place.  But, there will be a lot of posts about things I've discovered that are new in the town I grew up in :-) It has been almost 40 years since I have lived there! Now I'm feeling old! This year is bound to be a year of change, some good, some bad, and some definitely sad. But then, right now I'm thinking of this coming weekend.

Tomorrow I go there to attend my Mom's memorial service. It will be bitter sweet to attend. She fought a brave battle with cancer.  I hope that if I ever face that battle, that I will do it with such calm determination that she had. Sweet, because I know she is now at peace and out of pain.

My niece Tina, and Aunty Joy did a wonderful job on her obituary:

I wrote another poem for Mom... it is very rough around the edges, and I don't know if I will ever try to polish it up so that the rhythm is better. I don't think doing that matters, as I was just writing down memories of what made my Mom, Mom... a classy lady that I hope I reflect as I grow older myself.

Our Mother

motherless at 12,

her Grandmother raised her

she married Dad at 18

and was mother shortly after

she learned to cook for a crowd

making the most of hamburger

the budget was tight

with 8 mouths to feed

and a pantry to keep

with gardens to grow

chickens to pluck

and clothes to sew

she loved to try new things

harvesting wild crafted plants

like skunk cabbage and nettles

and learning which

vitamins or herbs to use

to help cure our sore throats

at every river or beach

there was a treasure to find

as she looked for the rocks

for her rock polisher to fill

or fungi and shells to paint

for gifts that were made

there were laughter and tears

as families will have

but firm faith she held

'though sometimes it made her sad

to let her children grow

and go their own way

growing old with our Dad

their smiles were glad

as they walked their lives

together hand in hand

down the road of life

until he passed

by herself she let

her spirit enlarge

to study and help

those who'd let her impart

her love of the LORD

and the hope she held dear

her hope was secure

until the end of her days

her thankful heart

around her shone

and touched all who knew her

and felt her sweet spirit