Friday, August 28, 2015

Thinking About This Lady


Alice Carlisle. She died on Wednesday, two days after her one-hundredth birthday.
Her daughter, Andrea, has been blogging about Alice for several years now at Go Ask Alice. 

Over those years I feel as if Alice had become a part of my own family, a matriarch of sorts whose life and adventures, as reported by Andrea, since childhood to the present have inspired and entertained me, made me laugh, made me think, made me remember how strong women are, how amazing the human spirit is.
Have reminded me what a mother can be. Have taught me how the bond between a mother and daughter can be one of great and good love.

I am hoping that Andrea can hold the memories of her mother close, that she can know that she did the very best for her mother than any daughter could do. And that she knows how very much we who have been fortunate enough to follow her blog are grateful to her for this incredibly real and loving window into the relationship she had with Alice and how much we have enjoyed our time spent with them.

We will miss Alice so much.

I hope that Andrea continues to write on her blog because I don't want her presence in my life to disappear. Of course, that is selfish and she will do what she wants and needs to do.
But whatever happens, I wish her all the love in the world and great peace.

And all of the stolen flowers in the world to Alice.

Love...Mary


10 comments:

  1. I've been thinking about Alice and Andrea a lot today too. What a beautiful bond. I will miss Alice.

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  2. Aw, I will also miss Alice, and may you fly free, dear Lady, wherever you go, Alice, may you fly! What a wonderful gift your daughter shared with us when she shared You with us..!

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  3. My heart aches for Andrea, and I will so miss Alice and hearing about her thoughts and life, both past and present. How wonderful and fortunate, though, that we've been given this gift and space to come to know her.

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  4. Thank you, Mary, for this wonderful tribute. I'm so moved. Thank you all for caring about my mother and me. I will miss her beyond the Beyond, wherever that may be. She was the center of my world for these past years, and I'm so grateful she found her way into wide open hearts. Thank you, thank you. Love love love.

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  5. I too came to love Alice and Andrea. What.beautiful stories and a splendid relationship. I will miss her. I also hope Andrea keeps writing. She is an amazing storyteller.

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  6. I never knew Alice and Andrea, but I am sorry for this loss, and I want you to know that everything you said about Andrea's blog--this blog of yours does for me.

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  7. I only just discovered Alice on Wednesday (not knowing it was the day she passed away) and stayed up until the wee hours reading backwards in Andrea 's blog. What a great lady Alice was.

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  8. Angella- She was, in a way, like a mother I never met. Wise and funny and smart and invested in life. Yes, we will miss her.

    Big Mamabird- I do agree with all of that.

    Elizabeth- I am constantly amazed at what the blogging community has brought to my life. You, for instance. May Andrea find peace. I know Alice has.

    Andrea- You opened our hearts and she slipped right in. I can't even imagine how different your world is now without her. Be gentle to yourself as you figure out your bearings again and know how much love is being sent your way.

    Joanne- She IS an amazing storyteller, isn't she?

    Ms. Vesuvius- Oh, honey. Thank you. That touches my heart.

    Jennifer- And your life is richer for that.

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  9. I didn't know her in the blog world, but anyone who can tell stories at such a great age is great in my book. My sincere condolences.

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  10. Oh, Mary, you say it better than I ever could. Alice and her stories will forever be a part of my memories now, as will Andrea and the way she honoured her mother through her final years and hours and moments. Their relationship was a beautiful thing to witness.

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