THE LAST WORD

For over 30 years I lived on the same property as my Mom.  Jim and I shared the property with her for 20 years. We saw each other almost every day and were very close.  In the last few years my Mom’s favourite bit of advice to Jim and me was “Travel while you’re still young and you have your health.”  We always agreed with her. She often repeated those words to us and supported our horizon fever affliction.  We will always cherish the last time she told us those words.

It was mid March, five  months ago, late at night in the hospital.  We had just flown into Victoria from Mexico to be with Mom since her heart was giving out and she was slipping away. She awoke when we arrived and was so happy to see us, even though it was the middle of the night.  We chatted quietly for almost an hour. She was lucid, funny and in good spirits.  She even joked with Jim because he kept nodding off in his chair at the foot of her bed.  She told us that it was good that we were travelling while we were young and we still had our health.

Since other patients were sleeping, the nurse urged us to continue our visit in the morning.  Mom squeezed both our hands tightly and looked directly up into our eyes and adding “I am so proud of the two of you”.  Precious words.  We kissed her goodnight and tiptoed out. By the morning she had lost her ability to speak and then she slept more and more. She passed away peacefully on Saturday evening, March 19th while I held her hand and wept.

I tell you this because Mom was a big part of our journey in life together and our cruising adventures. She was always supportive of us taking off and sailing when we could, sometimes for weekends and sometimes for months on end, like when we cruised to Southeast Alaska.   She had her own adventures over the years and did quite a bit of international travelling but she was happiest in her rowboat.

Mom and second husband Art on a day long sailing adventure in Fiji.

Out sailing on one of our boats years ago.

She happily looked after Timber, her granddaughter the cat, while we were gone since we shared her beachfront property in Victoria.

Cruising on the Aurora Explorer together in 2005.

Years moved forward; Jim and I moved onto Falcon VII and six months later we helped Mom downsize to a wonderful seniors’ facility where her happy disposition soon had her completely absorbed into her new surroundings.  Her short term memory loss was severe and yet she always asked where we were and how we were when we phoned her from Mexico.  She was so interested in our adventure.  We sent her post cards from everywhere, emailed letters to be printed off for her and collected colourful fridge magnets so she could see the places we were visiting.  She really did give us her blessing to sail away from Victoria for an undefined period of time, even though she would miss us.  She knew we needed to continue our cruising adventures.  So, as Jim and I complete the last leg of our journey home, I can’t help but feel Mom’s presence and know that she is here in our hearts, celebrating our accomplishment right along with us.

This adventure has provided us with many life lessons. Our love is stronger and we’re still best friends, even after spending 24/7 together all this time!  We’ve learned more about ourselves, flexibility, gratitude, understanding, curiosity, patience, tolerance, wonder, and acceptance. And by way of example from Mom, the most valuable lesson is that we all have the ability to love and be loved unconditionally. She lived her live that way right until the end.

As we move forward in our gypsy life we’ll continue to embrace each precious moment and to strive to be loved and lovable.  We encourage each of you to do the same and make the world a better place.

This three year blog is dedicated to the memory of my Mom, Olive Lydia Lawson, who loved the ocean as much as we do.

Olive Lydia Lawson  August 27, 1925 - March 19, 2016

Always in our hearts.

Peace.

Tricia and Jim