It is my mother’s birthday today. This time last year, Dad was still able – just – to take my brother and I out for tea and raise his glass in a toast, although he barely ate a thing.
I shall mark the occasion with a story.
The day before my Mum died, she took her school choir to a rehearsal of the Combined Schools Choir. At the rehearsal, there was some suggestion that during the public performance certain children should not sing.
In the days after she died, a little boy – and I wish I knew which little boy it was – sent us a card and in the card he described the choir’s bus trip back to school when my outraged mother told them not to worry that everyone would sing.
The little boy wrote: ‘…and Mrs Crisp told us, “Stick to your guns kids”‘.
And a few days after that, we went to the Combined Schools Choir performance and everybody sang.
16 responses so far ↓
miriam // May 28, 2009 at 1:35 pm |
thank you for sharing that with us, tc.
The Coffee Lady // May 28, 2009 at 2:38 pm |
I hope you will sing today
Cristy // May 28, 2009 at 3:20 pm |
Cool woman.
Take care.
Laura // May 28, 2009 at 3:37 pm |
That story adds another drop of depth to my enjoyment of your novel.
suse // May 28, 2009 at 3:54 pm |
Vale, Mrs Crisp.
Thinking of you today.
mary // May 28, 2009 at 4:17 pm |
As Suse said we will are thinking of you Mrs Crisp and of all the kids that sang , I suspect, especially for you and in your memory.
mikhela // May 28, 2009 at 4:28 pm |
Oh, for more leaders like TC’s mum.
Melody // May 28, 2009 at 6:03 pm |
Your mum sounded like a great woman to know! Obviously she rocked.
Thanks for finding me btw – you fellow AD resident.
SQ // May 28, 2009 at 6:06 pm |
Chins up. Take care.
Pavlov's Cat // May 28, 2009 at 6:27 pm |
Excellent story. Did you know she was Patrick White and Kylie Minogue’s astrological twin? She sounds about halfway between those two and yes I know that’s a long spectrum, but I can think of certain things they have in common with each other and (apparently) your mum.
Deborah // May 29, 2009 at 3:53 am |
Your mother was a champion.
blackbird // May 29, 2009 at 4:32 am |
This wrenches my heart.
kazari // May 29, 2009 at 10:59 am |
may every one have such a gutsy mum. thank you for sharing
Kath Lockett // May 30, 2009 at 11:14 am |
What a woman.
blue milk // June 8, 2009 at 12:48 pm |
What a beautiful line he recalled from her. Stick to your guns kids. Just wonderful.
Stomper Girl // June 11, 2009 at 7:23 am |
And while I quietly send my sympathy to you for your mother’s birthday anniversary may I also say that that is, I think, a magnificent last story about your mother.