HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!

ROME, ITALY

To all the mothers out there..HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!!!!

Happy Mother's Day Margie, our wonderful and special Margie, our love goes to you this Mother's Day and every day.

To my gorgeous girl Elise, i thank you for the flowers, chocolates and hugs and kisses...to see you in my msg inbox this morning was a beautiful thought in itself.

I love you so, so much and I miss you my gorgeous ever thoughtful and loyal daughter...You are a gift.

And i loved the message from Sam...offshore and in a 35 knot wind...and yet, remembering Mother's Day...that's so, so special and for me, with his birthday not long ago, even more special, because that's twice in a week i hear from my beautiful son!

To my own mother...a big hug and kiss to you, my beautiful mum whom i miss so much. The one thing I knew was a certainty about coming on this trip, was how i'd miss going to your place, laying on the couch (as we girls do) and chatting to you about every thing...with nothing out of bounds.

I miss that. Sissy, you and I, all there, sharing, chatting, drifting off on the couch!!! The couch. Yes. You have a wisdom that surpasses understanding at times (which i'm positive Elise has inherited!) and i miss being able talk with you.

But...it's so nice being able to message and email you....you've come into the 21 century with gusto...finally, after kicking and screaming!!!

You have a tolerance and patience that I appreciate and miss so much. I hear you constantly...whenever i feel at a loss, i can hear your reassuring words. You're an inspiration and always have been.

You studied for your degree as a mature aged student and became a business woman after bringing up four children in an, at times, stifled and suppressed evironment.

But through this, you managed. You taught us perserverance and optimism and i believe without this we would be lesser people ourselves, because all four children have striven and achieved and have never forgotten our backgrounds. Our history makes us, today, want to achieve and better ourselves always.

You were a single parent for a long time. And at times it was difficult and a struggle. Being the yougest and going on that journey with you created a bond. And now that i have been through those similar years, i totally understand and empathise with you and what you went through in those years. We have a connection..a definate bond..a linked past, as our routes can be traced with a similarity that is scary..and as a result, we have an unwritten true understanding of the other.

And you have that specialness with all your children. And that's something i have always admired. When i see other families falling apart and having strained relatinships i see ours as a strength, as a unity, and i believe it is you that has strengthened this. Even when times are frought, you remain steadfast and always supportive of all of us and you have unique bonds with all your childen, which has enabled us all to have strong bonds with each other also.

You have motivated me to be a better person. When i look at what you've done, what you've achieved, personally, and for others, i am proud that you are my mother. You organised events in towns that culminated in great festivals. Sunshine festival and the 150th to name a few. You tried other ventures, some successful, some not, but you tried, and persevered, and experienced.

You built a beach house. Invested in shares and property. You studied futher post graduate courses, learned about art, about spinning, weaving and dyeing. You delved into permiculture with gusto. You kept up your fitness always and still do with aquaerobics and mobility classes.

Most of all you've been adventurous. Travelling overseas and around Australia. And have gone 4 wheel driving! And camping!

Amazing too because you continue to enjoy life. Even in adversity...you glowed and displayed your endurance, and will to live in totality. I remember the breast cancer and how you fought, and conquered..and the operations on your knees..how you recovered with total determination! Sometimes in your independence i had to will you to allow help, and for me, that was a privilege. I love to be there for you. To return, what you've done for me.

You have also loved and lost...and left a trail of broken hearts...but you have always been happy. Happy in yourself. Happy with your decisions. Whatever they may have been. In your seventies, still with the dazzling smile, white shining hair and ready laugh, you are still graceful and charming.

You are a real lady..who has tireless grit. And always with a project! Sometimes impatiently wanting to surge beyond your expecations..but always achieving wonders in the end.

Nothing has been too much effort. You have just always been there. You've helped me so much. You are now as 'secretary' (which we appreciate so much!) but also when i lived in the country and felt so isolated and alone at times. It was always your voice i heard and the positives you expressed that picked me up. When i moved back to the city and my energy levels were drained, you were there to pick me up, to give me the extra energy to keep on going.

It's the little things...when i moved house...or had to pack houses, you helped to pack, and to unpack glasses and belongings from boxes when i didn't know when to start.

You were there for us as a family, a loving, supportive, grandmother to my kids, and always available. How could i forget the times you came to stay with us in the country...and just enjoyed playing and teaching the children about nature and patiently playing their games. Remember Sam's cardboard box boat where you were the decky? And he was the skipper?Remember showing Elise the spiders and bugs?

They were the funny times. And there were many. There were also the gloomy times where you pulled me out of myself and helped me when i was disappearing into shaded holes. In times during those pre-greg years and post-foot-op months. You have just always been there at the right time.

And you have especially known when to turn a tragedy into a laugh.

A reader, a philosopher, a listener, an educator, a person with knowledge....you are the kindest, giving and loving person..and i thank you for being the beautiul person you are.

You are a wonderful person, mother and friend. Words honestly can't describe how much i really feel about you.

But one thing is, I'm grateful that you are my mum.

If i could be half the person you are, and half the mother you are to me, to my own children, i will be happy.

My mother, my friend, my confidante, my mentor. I love you endlessly.

Your Daughter,
Jenny xxx