3 February 2002
The wee twinkle within the twinkle of an eye
Can be traced back many many moons ago
Upon one branch of that family tree
Near bonnie wee Glasgow
Girvan was the seaside place
That those beloved did meet
They sealed their love with a kiss
Then sailed to Brayside on a magnificent fleet
Many bouncing bubs were born
From the branches of that tree
The favourite bubs for us of course
Sprang from a woman they called Jean
Colleen Mary Devine
The Joy of her beautiful Mum
A bouncing broad brunette
A daughter with whom to be chums.
Her Dad was away in the war
She lived in her nana’s dress shop
Though naughty she played in the window
Until Nan hung a sign saying ‘10 Bob’!
This girl grew to dance, play and swim like a fish
Her beautiful artwork won prizes
The girl and her Mum would sew all afternoon
And create outfits in all shapes and sizes
But her Dad’s ruling thumb,
Soon grew too much to bear
Plotting her escape,
In to nursing was accepted with flair.
All of fifteen years old
and naïve in the world’s ways
That was never going to stop her
Just more reason to sway!
She excelled at her duties
And her studies to boot
With her buddies showed Hobart
That scull duggery was a real hoot!
Between shedding her skin in the corridors
And scaling after hours up drain pipes
Add flying around with her uncle
And dancing with boys into the night
Then one day when working on the ward
There came a wee sexy Scottish soul
Who had taken his shining new Bentley
And wrapped it around a telegraph pole!
A mess, yes indeed!
And who got to attend?
That’s right, good ole rubber pants….
Driven to her wits end!
“Take me off that ward
I can’t stand it any longer
Go out with him?
I’d have to be bonkers”
A few months later
He returns in a determined Hobble…
She finally relented
Hmm, this’ll be a doddle!
It was an adventurous union
Of two determined spirits
Rolling him over a bank in his car
Was the thing in the end that cinched it
Next we knew
They were saying “I Do”
A hotel to run
And then along came Michele too!
Well, with Shels in the Crib
She was feeling a bit Glibb
Is this all it’s cracked up to be?
Then her Nan came along
And helped to be strong
And a home was then rented with glee.
Next came Lan,
She was born in the lift
And Greg, well with forcips
He needed a shift
And this was her life
Mum to three little beings
A hotel to run
And customers to be seeing
Those years were long and fun
With many a story to tell
The family were the life of the party
And sometimes it was complete hell
How she did it I’ll never know
To play all those demanding roles
And then as if all that weren’t enough
She fell pregnant to fill up the hole!
This pregnancy was a toughie
We nearly didn’t make it through
But from somewhere (can’t imagine where)
Came determination never to be skewed
The blood and the feinting
Made me wonder where was safer
Inside this mad woman’s belly
Or outside in a cribb’s haven!
I opted for the latter
Two months ahead of time
So now there were four of us
From ridiculous to the sublime!!
She soldiered on
A wee bit longer
Then cancer came
The winner to be who was the stronger
“Ahem …Thank you very much
I’ll be keeping those breasts
Just radiate the buggars
Then we can all go home and rest
It all took its toll
The ills, the kids, the hotel,
And to Bill one day
She packed up and said farewell
It was a heart wrenching time
For him, her and us
Their love was so strong
And it just wasn’t enough
Rosetta we settled,
For a good many years
And David came along
They were together for years
Their union endured
A father figure for all
A trip to fiji
Marriage? A tough call
Still love for Dad?
A commitment to us kids?
Whatever the reason
They decided to call it quits…
So then came the Hickory Pitt
Mornays she did stir
Vol-au-vants a plenty
And sandwhiches to die for
A thriving little business
It kept the money flowing
Then an offer came along
Too good to be refusing
A testimony to her strength
Her courage to make a change
So she did all she could to study
And have a new job to engage
Office skills she learned
A computer she even embraced
A seriously amazing feat
For someone of her vintage!
So teaching was the next adventure
(Right after selling that house)
Lan and Shels went adventuring
And she watched their travels real close
A joy to her heart it did bring
She puffed her chest with pride
To see her daughters out in the world
And to all she would tell and not hide
A few misadventures did follow
And men, they were flowing a plenty
Each time the yachts would sail in
With Doug she did have a wee party!
She did steal many a heart,
Bob, Nigel, and Rick to name a few
She even struck the jackpot!$$
And those details are best left in lieu
Things were looking pretty good
With a new job just ready to roll
And the dreaded cancer struck again
And understandably she was really quite low.
“Off with my breast”
You savage wee beast
It must be done
I’ll still be here at least
And be here she was
They weren’t betting for long
And the ole determined buggar
Was just too damned strong
So recovered good and well
It wasn’t stopping there
Instead of her breasts
Her lungs took their share
Puffin’ and pantin’
A tough road to hoe
And she’s still here with us
With her oxygen in toe
She traveled all the way
To old London Town
And up to Bonnie Scotland
Where her ancestors were born
Home again she experimented
With living here and there
And working with her medical students
And counseling others with care
A very proud Nanny
To Kaelan and Jess
She’s always been there
To have fun and make a fuss
To them it’s lovely nanny
With her oxygen tube
And kaelan’s real fond
Of her fake rubber boob!
Now Abbeyfield’s home
And it can’t be denied
That she’s now a big part
Of Bertie’s Proud Pride
And so this is it!
Sixty no less
What a colourful life
With which you’ve been blessed
So I raise my glass to you
Mum on this very special day
You are such a part of my life
Wild horses couldn’t keep me away
Whenever I have called
You have been there
Listening and caring
Always willing to share
When I think about your spirit
I count my lucky stars
My life has been full of adventure
And there is nothing else on par
You have taught me such vast lessons
In what it is to live life
Your strength and determination
Are things for which I’ll never need to strive
Your life has been a winding road
With many mountains to climb
And I thank you from the bottom of my heart
For your love, Mum, you shine.
I love you
Janine
17 April 2009
Post script
Mum mentioned to me a few times during her last weeks at the Whittle Ward that this might make a good eulogy.
I hope you enjoy.
No comments:
Post a Comment