82. What I’d Be Without You: My Mother’s Life, Death, & Legacy of Love
In this meandering medicine story, I share about my mama’s unexpected death in 2015, the unbelievable coincidence of losing my father-in-law the same way 5 years later, the amazing thing my stepdad did at her memorial service, the worst and best things to say to someone who’s lost a loved one, the final gift she gave me after her death, and always remembering that our grief is equal to our love.
I love you Mama. I miss you every day. God only knows what I’d be without you. It’s all for you.
LINKS:
Pictures & a video of my mom
Megan Devine’s work at Refuge in Grief
Joanna Newsom’s song Time, as a Symptom
Brene Brown on Overfunctioning in times of stress
Golden California Girl
Class of ‘69
That’s Dave on the right, kicking a cop at Candlestick Park in San Francisco in 1966 as Ringo looks on
Love
Lacey, Mom, and me in front of our woodpile in South Lake Tahoe, CA 1985
The day she became a Grammy
Matriline: Mom, little Mycelia, Mémère, me
Dave & Mom after reuniting in their fifties
On her & Dave’s wedding day
The words Mycelia wrote for her Grammy the day we found out she died
Poor quality, rich friendships. Short hair, big shoulder pads. At the time of posting this I am the age my mom was here (it’s her 40th birthday). I love seeing her hold court like a queen and receive such glowing love from her friends.