There are places I remember, all my life though some have changed...

The weather is quite somber today and I'm in a meloncholy mood. When I switch on my old PC, the screen save is an old portrait of my Mum and Dad on their wedding day. It's the only picture that remains of that event and has been lovingly cherished by Mum for many years. Shortly after my third daughter was born, I stole that picture! I had the best of intentions, as I wanted to give mum a special present for that christmas and so I took it to an expert restorer, who copied the original, enlarged it and framed it beautifully for me. I then carefully packaged up both the original and the framed photo and duly presented it to her a couple of months later. During the intervening months, Mum missed the photo and fretted about it. I was undecided whether to wait for christmas or to confess. Suffice it to say that I made her suffer!



On Christmas Eve of that year, I rang Mum, knowing that she'd be in the house on her own. I asked her to open the present early and said that she needed to be alone to do that. I knew what would happen of course: She had a good old weep over the present and I felt that that was something she should be allowed to do in private. She did of course and, from then on, the photo frame has had pride of place over her mantlepiece. The memory is bitter sweet. Sad because Dad isn't here to see what happened to his treasured family, sweet because I know what a happy partnership it was and because I know that the present gave mum great pleasure. I love looking at it too. They both look so young. I wonder if they would have changed their minds about some things if only they knew what would be in store for them?
I suppose I'm in contemplative mood this morning due to the fact that I took the weighty decision to retire from UK teaching altogether, at its beginning. Sounds dramatic and in truth it was a big decision to make, but only financially because I will teach abroad for the forseeable future, but I doubt very much whether I will ever take a class of students in this green and pleasant land again. Of course, Sean Connery, my old and very yummy friend, would advise to 'never say never...' but that's all very well for him to say. He was in a very different situation altogether! ( Sorry is this unbelievably cheesy? I'm wondering whether by now, my faithful followers have noticed my very own gimmick for naming posts and even the actual title of the blog? Well you need to have a formula for these things.)
This week has been a week for seeing friends before I leave again. For looking back at photos and remembering and above all, for looking at Tom and myself and wondering where the years have gone. I was reminded of this old Beatle's song by my sister, who used it to preface the photo of Mum and Dad. It makes me more than meloncholy, it makes me shed a tear and it makes me remeber to enjoy what life brings today while trying not to worry too much about the future.