The Photo

The photo

27 June 2020

14:25

Ma in law came to live with us

She was not able to live alone

A home in monitored accommodation or hospital was offered

"No! I am going to live with them"

Ok that is what we hopped

 

They will be out all day

They will be there during the long nights

 

We were out all day we left her small jobs to do > She was happy

I did this and that, then thought about (lots of other jobs) > working to her own speed no boss

 

She had a photograph by her bed well two but only one in a frame

The unframed one was of two RAF men taken in Italy proudly wearing their Africa Star medals

The framed one she would stroke the face then place it to her lips last thing at night

 

We brought her ashes home and placed the casket on her bed with the photographs alongside

It was summer and people (Family) were all on holiday

 

We took her on her last journey to be interred with her husband by the church on the hill top overlooking the wide valley

Where she no longer required the photograph; still in its frame; now on our side board alongside her photograph

 

Wild Rose

June 2020

Reviews

[barleygirl]

This is an amazingly thought-provoking piece, which I wasn't expecting at all. I thought this would simply be a heartfelt tribute using a brilliant unforgettable detail about the way she kissed that photo every night. That would've been a powerful emotion-tugging read. But then I get to the end & find out you didn't put the photo underground with her . . . that would've been a hard call for me . . . I think I would've had to leave it with her. But I understand you wanting to relive this sweet memory (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[Wild Rose]

Thanks Margie
She came to us - her choice "I wont be with you for long"
We made sure she ate something and built up her strength, she did small jobs and lived with us for thirteen years
She was a better mother than my own
The church is on a hill top looking out over the valley.
Our son (In his Warrant Officers uniform) carried the casket into the church for the interment Service _ she had seen him dressed in it shortly before she died
Her casket was laid next to her husband - together again
We have their memory with the photos

[barleygirl]

Beautiful sentiments. Thanks for sharing! *smile*

[Wild Rose]

Thank you Yes the old photos do tell a story, or tie in with what little we know of his lift at that time
One (no idea of where - Italy somewhere, Just a line of army trucks, the occupants some standing smoking other just sitting in the back of the truck

Another of Mount Etna - A hotel turned into a military hospital _ Close to Monte Casino, Dad (wifes) drove a forward RADAR truck attached to the 8th Army - He had been wounded and spent a few days in the hospital > It was a card & marked by the censors

[Just Kim]

Thought provoking and intriguing write here, nicely written

[Wild Rose]

Ma in Law came to live with us . She had her own room with all her trinkets and photos
We were living 200 miles from her home
So after her cremation she (her ashes) were brought back to our home, until we could arrange for the family to attend the interment at the church in the village with her husband
We kept the photos with us in her memory

Thank you for reading and commenting

[Vertigo Cat1111]

This is absolutely wonderful and quite bittersweet. It was such an emotional read, but the ending was a whole thing on its own, being just beautiful, heartbreaking, and wonderfully written.

[Wild Rose]

Thank you
To me, she was a special friend
She used to say "I hope my mind doesn't go"
It didn't > When we visited her in hospital she would ask (on the Mondy visit) how much we had taken > She new the cost of materials, fuel, And stall rent for the weekly market - She could menaly calculate out profit within a few pounds

The photo - we kept it - we couldn't bury it with her - it is to precious to us > She was 92

[Vertigo Cat1111]

Aw, she lived a long life, huh? I hope you're doing alright now, and she seemed like such a special, kind friend and person.

[Wild Rose]

Mmm Well one story goes
She worked in a Victorian mansion as a nursery nurse
She was serving at the table > One of the guests was the Prime Minister of the time - as she was serving the soup he waved his arms _ Yes she spilt the soup over him _ then went off in tears - She was sent for - The Prime Minister made a public apology 'I am always waving my arm around, It was my own fault'
She was still working for the same people when I met her daughter

[Vertigo Cat1111]

That’s a rather crazy story! Very interesting though, and she seemed to be just a ball of light! It’s very kind of you to share these stories

[Neville]

... this is such a sad tale and told without any unnecessary frills or embellishments .. I think it was a necessary tale to tell and for you to share ... now permanently fixed in time and always remembered :)

[Wild Rose]

Sad to lose her
Yes she will always be in our memories

[Neville]

... Absolutely 👍

[Ankita Dwivedi]

OH! such emotional and heartbreaking but beautiful peice you have shared here..photographs are so much more than just a picture , it's memories , it's love ..And being united with someone you love is just so ecstatic..altogether . well at least i hope.tyfs ..i loved reading it
Love , Ankita

[Wild Rose]

Thank you Ankita
Human memories fade over time > The pictures capture an instant in time - when we view them our memories are brought back

[Robert Trakofler]

It is impossible not to feel this... I loved every bit of it and mostly i enjoyed the sweet loving care that is in this story:) and the reuniting of two loves at the end and the loss of yours at her passing but a reverence in the acceptance sits in your sideboard at the end:) beautiful poetry Wild Rose

[Wild Rose]

Thank you Robert
She fitted in with us perfectly

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you my friend for sharing the wonderful story in the poetry. I love the old photos. Each one can tell a story. Thank you for sharing the amazing poetry.
Coyote

[Wild Rose]

Ma in law was am amazing person
We were told that she met her love as a nanny at an Elizabethan Manor house - he was the gardener/chauffer
She came to live with us and did odd household jobs while we were out at work
She hoped that her mind didn't go _ When she was taken into hospital I would tell her how much we had taken > She calculated the amount of profit in her mind
The undertaker's wanted to send her ashes for burial by post
Ne we brought her up to live with us we would take her home

[Einstein Noodle]

poignant ... good story telling .. how fortunate you had her in your own home for what remained of her days on Earth .. i am sorry for your loss my friend. V1 L5 "hopped" should hoped; V3 L2 typo "thougth" should be thought ;) how fortunate your mother in law was happy .. and you and your wife enjoyed her living with you .. situations like that can go south in a hurry. Was she with you guys long? the imaging is superb .. i see her with the photo ... i see it with you now .. truly appreciate the time spent in morning as she was laid on her bed one last time with her picture ... just beautiful, Wild One ... closing is so right .. interred now with her husband... and no ... she has no need of the photo ... I am so saddened for your loss .. fine story telling ... very personal .. emotive and real ... love on ya brother .. and yer family

[Wild Rose]

Thank you Einstein They had lived in a farm workers tied cottage _ not that was a problem she could have stayed in it as long as she wanted.
I had always liked and got along with her > We built her up again (She was so feeble) she did odd jobs (She liked ironing) twelve years she was with us "What time should I put tea on? "We will give you a ring . Just in case we got last minute customers

[Einstein Noodle]

12 years ... how precious!

[Chris Shaw]

How touching she would kiss the photograph every night. All those years and she continued to do that. Never forgetting her beloved and saying goodnight to him. A moving story Wild Rose.

Chris

[Wild Rose]

Thank you
She left us in 2000 to be layed with her beloved. After 13 years living with us.read moreThank you
She left us in 2000 to be layed with her beloved. After 13 years living with us.

[Chris Shaw]

I have just read this touching poem for a second time. It is lovely that your mum in law was considered a friend. Too many are tge butt if jokes. You must miss her. Hope all is good with you Wild Rose.

Chris

[Wild Rose]

She was well liked
She had been with us 200 miles from her home town
As I said it was a holiday time when she died September the interment
The local church overlooking the parkland and town was packed