Thank you for all the kind words regarding my mom. An update for you - she transitioned October 28, 2024 at 4:56pm - she died with dignity to escape the decline into death due to being diagnosed with ALS.
It was heart wrenching, and heart opening. It was brutal and beautiful. I will never be the same.
Surrounded by her children, their spouses and her beloved grandson - all the loves of her life – led her out of her life in love 
For she loved us so
And we so loved her
We thank you, mom
You gave us so many gifts
The ultimate gift you gave us was your pure unconditional love
We love you.
We miss you.
We will look for you in the sky as you fly by.
My tears flow for you
I wish you were here
It will be hard to walk on without you.
But I know you are cheering for us from heaven
Your heart beated for me
and I am grateful I could feel your last heartbeat 
Tender, precious last moments with my mom.
The depth of our sorrow is the extension of our love - you will always be held in our hearts
We asked her how we would know she had transitioned, and she said that she will fly by as a bird. As the nurse practitioner pronounced her passing, I looked out the small side window and a bird flew up into the sky 
may your spirit soar - finally pain-free and at peace
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Shortly after my mom's passing, I learned of a dear (male) friends dad that had passed away - and this flowed from my heart to him:
Nevermore
We grieve for the moments lost,
for the way the relationship should have been
for the things that weren't
for the way they won't be
for the missing moments
for the nevermores
and also for the fact that the physical form of the relationship is over.
complete. done. finished.
There may be a part deep, deep down in you that needs a kind word, a hug, some love, a supportive hand on your back, an ear to listen or a heart to hear.
These moments may be hard to navigate
Emotions come and go
Tears may or may not flow
I encourage you to let it all go....
No matter what form the relationship took
I stand here in support for you.
sending love and compassion,
from my heart to yours
~~~~~~~~
And here are some poems you might like that I wrote leading up to my mom's passing:
Where is the soul?
It is found
In the twinkle of your eye
In the spark of your song
In the sweetness of your voice
In the soft touch of your hand
In the water you swim in
In the wind, whispering in the clouds
In the heart where wisdom resides
In the inhale
It is there at the beginning of our days
And signalling the last wave
That final exit
That final heartbeat 
As we exhale
One last time
A part of your soul
Embedded
Entwined
Imprinted
Forever in mine
- a poem for my mom 
THE LANDING:
We all need a soft place to land
with our tears
And our hearts in our hands
A place to be free
Where I don’t feel, I am “too much”
Or it’s too big
Or I’ve gone on too long
Where no one says “our time has come to an end”
For me, a safe spot is my journal
A place where I can let go
Let it flow on the page
rage
sadness
frustration
grief
disappointment
hurt
pain
injustice
And watch as hatred within
Softens in my heart
As I navigate this next stage of life,
It is a series of transitions
One after the other…
From my son becoming an adult
To my parents declining into death
I feel the weight of loss
Alchemized in my tears
The energy of emotion
Moving through every fibre of my being
Letting go of the grasp
Unclenching my hands
As I wave goodbye
to the life I’ve known
Carrying their love with me
With every step I take
Every inhale
And exhale
I cannot escape
The weight
Leaning into lightness
And leaving in love
I carry you within my heart
As you depart
------------
A Teardrop
One teardrop
Rolling down my face
One teardrop
Cries for you
As it stains my cheek
One tear drop
And I cannot speak
For it carries all the love I have for you
From my eye
to my heart
Watching and falling
as you depart
all that’s needed is
One teardrop
To express the love I have
For you 
- a poem for my mom
-----------
Let Life Love You
How do you explain your suffering
When you don’t understand it
When you are confused
When the pressure is paralyzing
When the weight of the world feels too heavy to hold
When every step you take
Turns you upside down
What do you do?
It’s best to just be
Be with the parts of you
You don’t want to be with
Bring in compassion
A gentle touch
A soft gesture
A supportive statement
And act of kindness
Of grace
And mercy
For your heart
Your soul
Your spirit
Let them be touched
Look inward
So you can look outward
It is safe to take a step
To let life
love you
And for you to love life
-------
Silence speaks
It is hard to put words
to the pain
When you don’t have the words
What do you say?
Questions become puzzles
To solve
What is wrong?
Why don’t you talk to me?
Depression speaks in the silence
Under the covers
Hiding in the dark
Away from the world outside
We discover the world inside
The depths
The bottom
The heart
The soul
The darkness
All lead you to the light
--------
The Ways In
Step back
Step down
Step over
Step around
Step on
Step in
Step out
Look back
Look down
Look over
Look around
Look on
Look in
Look out
Look deep
Get back
Get down
Get over
Get around
Get on
Get in
Get out
Get off
Go back
Go down
Go over
Go around
Go on
Go in
Go away
Lean back
Lean down
Lean over
Lean around
Lean on
Lean in
Lean forward
Feel your way in
Feel your way through
Feel your way out
Find your way in
Let love be your guide
-------------------------------
Spinning
Stay calm
Stay present
Stay still
Stay silent
The world will spin around you
You’ll swirl & whirl
Get spun around and
Turned upside down
As you spin
Stay calm
Stay prepared
Stay strong
Stay silent
And know when it is safe
To speak your truth
--------------
I sit in bed alone with my tears
wishing you were here
but would you want it that way….
I wander the streets looking at every corner
hoping that you'll pass by
but only strangers I see, and
I wonder...
are they hurting like me?
I stand in silence, with a smile on my face,
a tear rolling down my cheek and a hand-print
impressed on my heart -
like a permanent tattoo
by which I can always remember you.
I'll remember your loving embrace,
the smell of your face,
your laughing eyes
quick wit and youthful humour
who gave life to my spirit
with the grace of a woman
and the beauty of a child
Forever, I will remain indebted to you.....
