My mother doesn’t like to be written about because she is very private about her life, but, as I’m not so private, I would like, here, to salute her for the following:
When my mother was just in her 40s, Dad died of a heart attack. Not long after that, she developed breast cancer and had to have a mastectomy and chemotherapy. Then, about ten years ago, she began to lose her hearing. Two years ago, she fell and broke her hip and then, just as her hip had healed, she fell off her bicycle and broke her pelvis and wrist. And now she has macular degeneration and has to have six-weekly injections into her good eye to prevent it from getting worse (I took her today for one of these).
Despite all of these situations, my mother is an absolute inspiration to all of us and is as active now, at 79, as she was when Dad died and before. She will do anything for anyone and her volunteer work is beyond belief. She has more energy and compassion and generosity than I will ever have!
After the car accident, six months ago, my mother and my brothers’ families had to deal emotionally with repercussions, injuries and enormous anxiety and yet she always remained calm and in control and absolutely supportive of all of us. My own pain of regret had nowhere to go except to my mother and she helped me to figure out how to keep going. (AND she visited Anthony on all of the days I couldn’t when I had the rotten pompholyx condition).
This kind of mother is rare – the kind of mother you would dream of having – and it doesn’t seem fair that she would now be afflicted with macular degeneration, but she is. A fact. Life. Age. Hardship.
And what is Mother doing tonight? She is probably going to ignore the pain in her injected eye and work on the scrapbook she will give Ming when he turns 21 next January She has done this for each of the grandchildren preceding Ming and she has done it for my brothers and me when we each turned 50.
She is funny, clever, artistic and an absolute legend. And she is NOT old!
She is always NEW!
My/our mother xxx
jmgoyder 
You are so blessed to have a mother like this. I have the other kind.
So sorry
She truly is a rock Jules. “And she is NOT old! She is always NEW!” is GREAT. xo
Dunno what I would have done without her!
Btw off FB for time being
I’ll be here when you return. Take care Jules. xoxo
Just couldn’t keep up with FB and blogging – aha but I can still email you and am about to do so now!
always!
Blessing her dear Julie, Love, nia
Thank you Nia.
You’re mom sounds as awesome as her daughter. I love how you love each other…xx
Thank you Mimi.
What a lovely tribute, Julie. Your mom sounds like a true gem–so happy you have each other!! Hugs, Lori
Me too – thanks Lori.
She is an over-comer for sure…. and what a support she is for you. It is no wonder you feel as you do about her….. Diane
She’s a rock.
What a blessing to have someone so vibrant and loving as your mother, mine was so very different.
That makes me even more grateful.
Your mom is amazing — as you are also. My mom also had macular degeneration. I went with her to her specialist when I was in town. It took several hours each time. She had to compensate for the vision loss by using a hand held magnifying glass. Here’s to mothers who age with such grace!
Here here!
I am not surprised to read about your very awesome mother, Julie. Thanks for sharing her with us today.
You are welcome!
What a treasure.
Yes.
She sounds like my grandmother (who was more like a mother to me than a grandmother–she was very young when I was born). It really is such a blessing and an inspiration to have people like them in our lives. And it explains a lot about your pluck and determination, too.
Thanks Tracy.
What a beautiful tribute to a great lady,your Mum and my best friend!.I would like to join in the business of tributes and pay tribute to those daughters who have graduated from being our little girls to becoming our friends and women we are so proud of.Heather.
We daughters are very lucky to have you mothers, Heather!
What a Treasure (and a Blessing).
No wonder you’re such a loving and caring person, Julie – your Mother made a good example for you to follow.
I’m very sorry to hear she has macular degeneration. My own Mother lost the sight in one eye due to that and her other eye was not that good either (before she passed away).
It’s a scary disease.
You are very blessed to have her! I love that she’s always new! I lost my mom when I was only 19, have missed her ever since.
I understand because Dad died when I was 19.
It was a privilege for us to meet her.
The feeling was mutual.
Here on earth, there is no greater love and sacrifice than that of a mother. You are blessed Julie. ❤
Diana xo
Very!
Your mother sounds wonderful! I’m sorry to hear she has to go through the eye injection thing. My mother-in-law has that too and it sounds dreadful. Plus, her vision is getting a little wonky anyway, which would be just awful. Healing wishes to your generous mother!
Scary business with the eyes.
Lovely tribute! May she remain young for many decades more.
Anthony and my ma are nearly the same age so it’s strange to have him so immobile and her such a gadabout!
Delighted to meet your inspirational and marvelous mother through this post. It helps me to understand my affinity for you all the more. Hugs to you both. ❤
And we are grateful for that affinity!
I am so proud of her and she turned out a fabulous daughter also!!!
Ha – thanks Terry.
Your mother seems to be they type of person who does not let anything get her down.
I don’t know what they do in Australia, but in the UK you get free eye tests at opticians. They can check all manner of things relating to the eye and can pick up illnesses.
At least your mother is getting treatment and hopefully it will arrest the condition.
Fingers crossed.
She his sounds so wonderful and lets not forget that she and your father produced a wonderful daughter as well.
Those injections sound so very painful. I wish her the best. She certainly deserves it!
The injections are horrid but they are working thank God.
I suspect you are much like your mother, Julie. Full of courage and the will to keep going no matter the challenges. Always happy to catch up with you!
Thanks Victoria.
How fortunate you are to have her, Jules. Lovely post.
Thanks bluebee.
You are so lucky Julie. And I have a feeling Ming will be saying similar things about you. What a wonderful shout out for your mom and your love. 🙂
We are lucky to have such a relationship.
What a spectacular love letter to your mother! I am so happy that you have the best mom 😀
I admire and respect her very much.
This is a beautiful tribute and I am happy for you that you have such a loving caring relationship with your mother. My mother is also my rock and confidante and I appreciate her every day.
You are lucky too.
What a wonderful tribute to your mum sounds like life keeps throwing stuff at her and she keeps swinging the bat and hitting that stuff away. Your mother sounds as amazing as mine, aren’t we lucky to have such wonderful mothers
We are very lucky indeed.
A wonderful tribute to your dear mom, Julie. Strength to her to finish the scrap book. How blessed you all are to have such a lovely lady looking out for you. xx
It doesn’t seem fair but what a woman! It would have brought down a lesser person.
Your post is loving and so the amaxing you I have come to know.
The cool thing Jules is I didn’t need to read your words about your beautiful mum to know this about her because you are a mini-her.
Hugs to both you beautiful women from me in Oregon.
Julie, Your Mom sounds like a truly great lady, which I know would be a pleasure to meet and chat with. Thank you for sharing these moments and thoughts. Love Bill
She sounds an absolute bless to have… just like mine…
Sounds like a jewel. I would still be whining about the first problem.
This really took a grip around my heart … I loved “My mum isn’t old .. she is always new”.
My mum had problems with her eyes in the end … and the medicine they gave her made her blind for hours, she had to take it 3 times per day, so that meant she was blind all her awake hours. it was so terrible to see.
You and your mum has the same young spirit.
What a wonderful inspiration and heroine for us all. Thank you for sharing this.