30 Comments

Kate ~ such a touching and beautiful resentence of your mom.❤️.

I feel the very same about All Creatures Great And Small!!! You truly do have a smile on your face the entire time!!! I adore it.

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Just watched another episode last night. Still smiling. I bet my mom would have loved it too...I mean, who wouldn’t. Right?

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Kate, I hope at some time you consider sharing the near death experience. Please believe that, at least, one of your readers has had one as well.

With your story, you have shared your mom with all of us. I feel like I know her, just a little bit. That is a wonderful gift to give to both your readers and your mom. We now have "memories" of her as well.

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Beautiful, touching, poignant. I loved seeing little Kate at the piano. 💫

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I was there A LOT, Jolene! Thanks for your kind words, too.

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So lovely- it brought back experiences of my own

Lots of good wishes to you for a wonderful New Year!

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And to you as well, Stevie!

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Everyone on my mother's side of the family sees people after they depart. They're Sicilian. I'm included in this. My mom's mom passed away earlier this year, and she's visited me and many others, but not my mom, and it is driving my other nuts. I keep telling her, "this is grandma's way to tell you to stop looking around and look in front of you — to see all that you still have."

Loved this essay.

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And so is my soon to be DIL...a redheaded Sicilian.

So glad you enjoyed it, Kelton.

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Thank you Kate. I always enjoy reading your posts, you are so relatable. I was with both of my parents when they died. My dad had had a stroke and was at a recovery center. He was ready to move on, and he has never reappeared. My mom lived with me for the last 3 years of her life. She was in so much pain but wanted to meet her next grandchild, she died in March and he was born in July. After she died, she came to see me twice. The first time was scary as she kept turning the tv on, 3 times! The 3rd time, I told her she was scaring me and it didn’t happen again.

The next time it happened, I was sleeping. I could feel her on the edge of my bed. She was waking me up. She was young and beautiful, she told me to quit being so sad and not to worry. She said she was so happy, was no longer in any pain and she was swinging on a swing. That morning I saw a hummingbird. A hummingbird appears often when we need her or we are all together. A hummingbird was there the day her last grandson was born. Every time we see a hummingbird we say that mom is here with us.

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I recently read the book Signs by Laura Lynne Jackson and she writes about special signs from those who have already passed on given to their loved ones who remain. I believe that your mom is with you when you see that hummingbird, too.

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Thank you Kate! I’m going to read ‘Signs.’ I really enjoy your writing.

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you, a woman of many skills, including story telling. lovely and precious, the story and the pictures

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Thank you so much, Jody!

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Three cheers to the vets of Yorkshire.

I love the show too.

Rick

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On to another episode soon!

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What a poignant story, Kate! I really enjoyed reading it and learning more about you and your family. The story of the fallen bed was so funny. And that photo of you playing piano as a little girl is precious. How cool that you got to make beautiful music side by side with your mom.

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Playing ensemble music (2 piano/4 hands and 1 piano/4 hands) was our TV!

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Dear Kate,

My mother just passed away before Thanksgiving. My daughter is now a piano teacher. Reading your beautifully written tribute has been a gift to me on many levels. I have had the pleasure of baking a pie in your kitchen and currently enjoy being a recipient of your wonderful articles, recipes and cookbooks. You are truly an amazing person. Thank you for sharing yourself with us. All life’s best in the New Year.

Love, Sue xo

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Oh Sue, thank you so much for your kind words. I am so sorry to hear about your mom but delighted to hear that your daughter is sharing music with others. Pie has brought us together in many ways. ❤️

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Kate, I lost a beloved friend and family member in a horrific car accident just before Christmas. She, too, has “visited” me to tell me to move on with my life. It’s comforting to know you experienced the same thing. Thanks for sharing. 🙏

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Deborah, I am so very sorry for your loss. A violent death is never easy to process. So much left undone. I send you love. ❤️

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I am remembering stories we shared about our moms. And when your mom died. And your playing piano, of course. Thank you for reminding me of your journey. So lovely to walk this path with you. 💕

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You've been walking it with me for a very long time, my dear friend.

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Kate, a great post. Thank you for sharing some of your family life...and tales of your aches and pains...It is good to know that we are not alone in this thing called aging. But I am very grateful to have these years...aches and pains and all. Thank you.

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And all the wrinkles, too!

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Dear Kate, just what I needed to read today. Ellen

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I'm thinking of you during this time and sending much love, Ellen. ❤️

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Such a beautiful and poignant remembrance honoring your mother. ❤️ 🎹 And grace in accepting our aging joints. A delight to be alive even if creaky- our packaging is just slightly more rumpled than it used to be! xoxo

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Indeed it is just a package and wrapper getting more rumpled from lives well lived. Thanks so much for your beautiful comment, Laura.

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