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Regardless of whether or not she was difficult, he loved his mother very much, as was very obvious by the past few posts he made regarding her. There’s no reason to malign the dead.
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I’m not maligning, I’m genuinely curious. I don’t recall ever seeing anything from Sampiro other than spleen-venting about his mother. Personally, I’m a little more pragmatic when it comes to poisonous relationships, so I’m just trying to understand.
While it isn’t a direct help to Sampiro (or to my Dad, or my Grandfather, or any of my relatives on that side who’ve died from cancer, or my boss who died from cancer, or…), it is a way we can make a gift of life to others. Like my two aunts who have survived cancer: they wouldn’t have if it wasn’t for all the research that’s gone into it.
Nobody lives forever - but people’s works remain. This is a way we can turn our work into “Sampiro’s Mom’s work”.
I read of Sampiro’s mum’s passing this morning before I headed off to work. Actually, it damned well made me late because I couldn’t stop the tears in time for the tramride. Funny how things happening a half a world away can do that to you, when you have grown to know and love people without regard for geographic or time boundaries. Such is the way of the SDMB and the community it has nurtured.
Sampiro, vale to your mum, and courage to yourself during this time.
And sympathies to your dad if he is there in the Pearly-Gates Welcoming Committee.
While it isn’t a direct help to Sampiro (or to my Dad, or my Grandfather, or any of my relatives on that side who’ve died from cancer, or my boss who died from cancer, or…), it is a way we can make a gift of life to others. Like my two aunts who have survived cancer: they wouldn’t have if it wasn’t for all the research that’s gone into it.
Nobody lives forever - but people’s works remain. This is a way we can turn our work into “Sampiro’s Mom’s work”.
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Thank you for linking that, Nava!
I regret to say that I do not actually know Sampiro. I was one of many Dopers who had given my e-mail address to him long ago in hopes that he would send us some of his writing from time to time. He sent that essay yesterday to a group of us and requested that one of us would post it.
Jon, you are very much in my thoughts at this time, as is your mother. Thank you for allowing us to “know” this amazing woman. I hope that your pain is eased in some small way by the support and good wishes offered by all of us who are affected by her passing.
More words on a screen from someone you don’t “know” but who was moved by your love for your mother. Your descriptions of her made her real for me, and I mourned her passing. I am sorry for your loss, and you and your family are in my thoughts. Please, please, please continue to write about her.
I’m so sorry, Sampiro. What an amazing person she was. Now, you keep well - do enough eating, sleeping and all that, even in the midst of making family arrangements.
Cattle die and kinsmen die,
thyself too soon must die,
but one thing never, I ween, will die, –
fair fame of one who has earned.
Fair fame she has indeed, a remarkable woman whose character, strength, and integrity place her among the greats. I’m sorry for your loss.
I really can’t say anything that hasn’t been said before, but please know that you have my sincerest condolences for your loss.
The only thing that helped me when my mother died last year after a rather difficult couple of years was that she was finally able to stop her struggle to be there for us.