My leukemia is getting worse. I sure wish I could talk to my mom who passed 30+ years ago.
My mom left far too soon. I have copies of this for all my family to read when my leukemia finally says it's time. I can still hear her voice. This piece has stayed with me since the day I first read it. Copies are in our "important papers" so my husband, daughter and grandkids can read it. I hope it moves them as well. And maybe some of you.
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Goodbye to a mom who was quite right
Chris Erskine: March 31, 2012
LA TIMES
The thing about my mother's eulogy is that I used note cards. After 55 years, you'd think you could remember a mother without such prompts. But this was no regular mother. Tell me, are there any regular mothers?
She could be hell in high heels, my mom — a little French, a little fussy about what other people wore on airplanes these days. She once bought a Christmas tree, hauled it home, decorated it with a thousand lights and a million ornaments, then took the whole thing down and returned it to the tree lot.

"It's not quite right," she told the puzzled tree man.
Hey, Mom, I said: That tree isn't the only thing that's "not quite right."
We'd visit her every summer back on the outskirts of Chicago. It's not Anywhere USA, but close. Where farms once stood, now subdivisions. In what passes for progress, Wal-Marts have replaced the wetlands.
My mother died peacefully in her sleep the other night on the same shady street she was born on in 1924. Who does that anymore? She was of another time. In summer, she'd fill big pickle jars with flowers from her yard and surprise neighbors with them. Who does that either?
Read more:
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http://articles.latimes.com/2012/mar/31/home/la-hm-erskine-mar31-20120331
= new reply since forum marked as read
I regularly read Chris Erskine in the LA Times, and I love him. I don't remember this column, so I am grateful to you for bringing it here...
And yes, I was deeply moved with this reading.
I am so sorry that your leukemia is getting worse, my dear mimi85...
...But the world may be a little better because I was important in the life of a child."
...like you.
Love your family, let them love you back, fill your time with love. 
I'm so sorry to hear of your leukemia.. 
My mom passed away 14 years ago and I just said to my sister the other day that I wish I could talk to mom.
Thank you for this "Goodbye To Mom" by Chris Erskine.. I will pass this on to her.
Keep on fighting mimi85
Last edited Wed Apr 2, 2014, 08:45 PM - Edit history (1)
I'm not much of a "sharer." I'm more of a loner, so it was difficult for me to post this as even my family doesn't hear me complain much (though my husband may disagree, lol). Many, many hugs and good wishes (especially for good health) to all of you kind people and all DUers. The list of crappy stuff I have is a mile long due to a shitty immune system (like Sjogren's Syndrome - the worst)!
I sometimes have selfish thoughts like "why didn't this happen to Cheney"? I really don't wish bad health on anyone; guess it's just a human failing.
Is it bad karma or just getting the short straw? No one will every know, but I try to be a good person and I hope I leave the world a little bit better place than when I arrived. 
I don't believe in angels or karma: maybe I should start looking for "loopholes" like the famous story of when WC Fields was dying.
hugs and peace to you and your family.
it won't be the last. Thanks for being one of the special ones!
are great. This is my favorite song from them - sisters talking to one another in harmonies - talking about love and mistakes and the way family is always there for one another. I lost my mom when I was very young. You never stop loving your mom and she never stops loving you. Just like sisters.
One of the Roche sister's son is Rufus Wainwright III - he also has a lovely voice - he's done covers of Beatles songs, Cohen - that are wonderful. Plus his original stuff.
hugs to you, fellow freak, lol