Today, May 11th, here in Bali, Indonesia, the air is thick with the promise of a beautiful day.
Tomorrow, across the vast oceans, many will celebrate Mother’s Day. Here in Bali, we have our own special day for mothers on December 22nd.
But for me, Mother’s Day carries a bittersweet weight.
It’s been over a decade since my dear mother passed away, leaving a void that time can’t quite fill. There are no flowers to give, no dinners to share, just a profound sense of missing her, especially on a day dedicated to mothers.
This year, if she were still with us, she would have turned 100. A century of life, love, and the unwavering spirit that defined her.
Barely a day goes by when her memory doesn’t surface. A glance at her picture on my office wall, the vast expanse of the Balinese sky mirroring the silver strands of her hair as I swim – these are the moments she feels close, her gentle smile a silent greeting.
Our connection was unique, a bond that transcended the thousands of miles separating Bali, my home, and Victoria, Canada, where she lived. I could always count on her uncanny intuition.
A simple “Whats wrong Son” on the phone, instead of a hello, was her way of knowing when I was facing hardship, like the devastating loss of my life savings and yacht in a cyclone back in 2002 off of Australia.
| Lost Uninsured Yacht and Life Savings 2022 Darwin, Australia |
She was always there, a steadfast presence in my life.
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It was I who suggested she move to Bali when she grew tired of Victoria’s cost of living. That decision blossomed into the beautiful villa complexes in Sanur, a testament to her resilience and adaptability. .
I am incredibly proud of the woman she was
In June, as I celebrate my birthday, I’ll be seeing my remaining cousins.
We are the legacy of a family of blue-collar workers and fishermen who settled Purcell’s Cove on the coast of Halifax Harbor centuries ago, giving the place its name.
My mother, Elsie Purcell later Elsie Millington, even chronicled this history in her book, “Purcell’s Cove: The little place that helped build Halifax City”
Life wasn’t always easy for her. I remember the day, at just five years old, when a knock on the door brought the devastating news from the priest: my father, an engineer at the Halifax Navy heating plant, had been in a horrific accident and wasn’t expected to live.
The blur of his funeral remains a stark memory.
Suddenly, my mother was left with very little and two sons to raise – my 14-year-old brother and me, just a child of 5 .
With incredible strength, she became a nursing assistant, a profession she dedicated over 30 years of her life to.
In her later years, her heart went out to terminally ill children, whom she would sometimes bring home for Christmas, knowing it would be their last.
After retiring from nursing, her creativity blossomed with “Elsie’s Costumes,” a costume shop born from years of crafting costumes for little theaters across Canada.
Her talent was undeniable; she even won the best costume of the year in all of Canada one year.
Later in life, she showcased her competitive spirit at the Commonwealth Games, winning trophies in bridge, curling, and lawn bowling.
While a part of me feels a deep sadness that she isn’t here to celebrate Mother’s Day, I know her spirit lives on, a comforting presence especially during challenging times.
I imagine her surrounded by and happy with family and people she loved, her laughter echoing in the heavens.
Though I can’t give her flowers or take her out to dinner today, Mom, know that you are always in my heart.
Happy Mothers Day MOM
For those of you that still are fortunate enough to have your Mothers around treat her like royalty on this special day.
Labels: #CelebratingMom, #CherishedMemories., #FamilyHistory, #GenerationalStories, #HonoringOurMothers, #LegacyOfLove, #LifeWellLived, #MothersLove, #ResilientWomen, #TimelessBond
