she called it
her butterfly dress
my mother
a young girl
in italy
twirling
carefree
spreading her wings
all the world before her
and
at her
happiest
before life
got challenging
and things
were
never the same
for her
and she
lost her wish to fly
and this is how
i want
to remember her
on this date
that was
both
the day
she was born
and
the day
that she died
and
i still want
to think of her
twirling
and
carefree
at her happiest
in her
butterfly dress
—
the thing that interests me most about family history is the gap
between the things we think we know about our families and the realities.
– jeremy hardy
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I didn't have my glasses on.... 
A beautiful memorial for your mum, yes remember her just as she was then, which will overshadow the power of her death and how much you miss her. She is the butterfly soaring high and watching down on you with love. Huggles xx
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thanks, jen. she had a difficult time when she became an adult and in being a mother, but i know she did the best she could. i like to think of her when i knew her life was easier and happy. when i showed her this picture of her that i had found, she told me about the dress, and she had such a smile in her eyes.
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I’m so glad you were able to capture this moment with words AND a picture! It does make a difference to them when they get to tell us. My dad has been closed most of his life, and now that I’m fifty I get a few memories…and the ones I hear laughter in his voice are from childhood. What a blessing for you.
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thank you, and i’m glad you’ve been able to have more of those moments with your father too, marie )
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I am able to because people like you inspire me!
Thanks again for sharing all that you do about your family. :0) M
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it’s my pleasure, marie and thank you for reading )
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So much history and story lies within this picture and your words, Beth. Your mom was a beautiful and carefree butterfly. Sorry to hear of the struggles that came later in life. I will send thoughts of respect from Syracuse on this day of her birth and death, my friend.
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thanks, mark )
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I love this so very much. It gives a story….but leavrs me thinking about her. And wanting to know more. I hope she feels the good thoughts on her special day.
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yes, she was a complicated woman, and i am only beginning to figure some of it out, thank you cm )
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What a great way to honor your mom and her beautiful memory. I feel her giddiness.
And I like the quote at the bottom…We never really do know our family. I’m just getting to know them.
Take care sweet friend. Hold that joy dear to you. (((HUGS))) ~ Marie
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aloha ksbeth. beautifully written. and spot on in all ways. it may be that i connect with the words and image you’ve given to us because i have a similar sense with my mother. not that she ever said adulthood was harder but i see in so many of the photos she took and is in, a great sparkling in life. to be sure she always kept a part of that even in the last days of her life. it’s more i think that in those younger years (which were probably harder actually) her face is full of life. i get this same sense through your words. thank you for bringing this sense alive. aloha.
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yes, you read it very well, rick and thank you )
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How beautiful and sweet!
>
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thank you roy )
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Beautiful Beth.
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that’s very kind, thank you paul )
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How striking is the difference between this sweet, carefree photograph and the complicated reality of her life. Lovely tribute, Beth. I wonder what the signifance is (if any) of being born and dying on the same day is. Thinking of you …<3 ~Karen~
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thank you karen, and i’ve thought about that too, the same day, both entering and leaving the world.
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Lovely, Beth–thank you. :-)
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thank you so much, ermine )
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Beautiful poem and tribute. Thanks so much for sharing it with us :)
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and thank you for reading and for your kind words, faith )
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A wonderful tribute to your mother. I lost mine when she was still young so this spoke strongly to me.
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i’m so sorry tiny and happy that it resonated with you a bit –
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i lost it–at “lost her wish to fly”
your beautiful mother. That special, special dress. And even though her face is unclear, I see hear beaming as detailed as anything–I FEEL her “pretty girl” sweet heart fluttering newness…
lovely ode.
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thank you, cc –
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In paradise, I think we will iterate in our happiest, truest selves. So, when you get there … look for the twirling butterfly dress.
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i will, eli and thank you )
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A lovely happy picture of my mum. You’ve reminded me to ask my mum to show me pictures and tell me stories. She’s unwell and and doesn’t have much energy to do anything but is bored at the moment.
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thank you, and ask for sure if you have the opportunity
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I love the image you have in your head of your mother. It’s a wonderful, cheerful photo.
I wish I had one when my Mom was roller skating or dancing. She loved to do both. But she grew up during the Great Depression and photos of her are rare.
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thanks judy and i wish you had some too, but it sounds like it was rare for those days –
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Beautifully said. I’m thinking of her today too.
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thanks, pat )
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Beth, thanks for sharing this with us. I like the photos of my mom in her carefree days too before she had six kids and no free time or money. The words you used to express this time in your mom’s history is just very special.
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thank you so much for your kind words, and i’ll bet those pictures are a treasure –
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Wonderful tribute to your mom. Beautiful.
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thank you, gigi
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Beautifully written and touching. The layout out of your poem reminds me your mother’s butterfly light dress. Wonderful tribute. Stefy. :)
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thank you, and i love your insight into the shape of the poem, stefy )
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Beautiful words and a great image, I sympathise with you, as I know there will always be a small empty space within you after her passing. Memories are great though they give us a lifeline to past times.
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thank you, and you are so right about memories. )
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I was not able to say it on your Mom’s birthday, but thanks for sharing a small piece of her story. Happy Birthday to someone who made ALL the difference in your life, made you part of who you are! I always wonder about the strange coincidence that someone is born and dies on the same day.
Your story of her memories of wishing to soar like a butterfly, along with her challenges in life, moved me to tears. Poor thing! We all hold such hope and light in our youthful days, like hers seemed to be happiest while young. Hugs, Robin
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thank you, robin )
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Your mom is somewhere, twirling to your words.
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yes, i think she is, thanks andra )
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That was a lovely homage to your mom. What a lovely memory!
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thanks, bc )
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That is a lovely tribute. Life often doesn’t give us what we want, and we forget to be happy with what we need. Parents have a rough time. Having forgiving children is a priceless gift. I’m sure she is looking out for you now, serene and happy and light as a feather.
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thank you, brenda )
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