Dear Mum,
You said "Bitterness eats people up." You lived this, and you didn't bear grudges. You forgave. You showed me how to get on with everyone. You showed me how to be mischievous and to have fun. You showed me determination. Perserverence. You showed me how to bring joy to the people we met on our outings. How to make them smile and laugh.
Thank you for being there when I was at primary school. You were always at home, making my dinner at lunchtime. Always waving me back to school, up Belcourt Road. Thankyou for rubbing my smelly teenage feet on the couch as we called it, whilst watching TV. It soothed me. Thank you for being there when I was heartbroken after a break-up. You sat up late at night, to make sure I was OK. Thank you for your reminders that "life is precious," as you often said. Thank you for your child-like enthusiasm. The way you marvelled at the scenery on our trips out. The joy you had on your face when you saw a mother and baby. The joy in the babies' eyes reflecting back.
I am so grateful we had the last few years of your life together. I've been grieving for you since your diagnosis in 2017. But during the last few years of your life, my love for you grew deeper. I am honoured to have had this precious time with you.
You often said that having Marie, David and I was the best thing you ever did. Thank you for being my Mum. You are always around me, and in my heart.
With love, always.
Julie xx
Julie Sutcliffe
08/06/2025
