Gone to a Better Home Awaiting
My former mother in law passed away last night. She's free, on her way home, at peace, however one needs to think of it.
To think she is gone is very sad. Losing my own mother was sad, and I imagine what her daughter goes through now is a hundred times more powerful, since she took tender care of her mother and helped her to cross over.
In thinking of a fitting tribute, I recall that she was a fan of original country music. I thought an awful lot about her last week after we watched Walk the Line and thought of the heavy influence of the Carter Family on country music as we know it today.This recording of the Carter Family, AP, Maybelle, and Sarah, is as original as it gets. The music is always a comfort to me, and I hope it will be a comfort to her and to her family as they move through this difficult passage together. This song of course is the one that concludes each of the "Will the Circle" volumes, the first featuring Mother Maybelle. That recording features her on several tunes with her autoharp. At one point, prior to one song (I can't recall which one but it is a popular tune), there is that pre-recording chatter going on and she says, "I'd like to do this one on the autoharp. I've never recorded it with the autoharp."
I will miss Mother Carrie. She was my children's grandmother, a friend to my family, and a good lady. She had a crone wisdom that she didn't flaunt. Her family now faces the task of moving forward in a new shape without her there, although she'll always be present somehow.
Because the circle always remains unbroken.I was standing
By the window
On a dark and cloudy day
When I saw the
Hearse come rolling
For to take my mother away
Can the circle be unbroken
By and by, Lord, by and by
There's a better home awaiting
In the sky, Lord, in the sky
Lord, I told the
Undertaker,'Undertaker,Please drive slow
For the body you are takingL
ord, I hate to see her go'
Can the circle be unbroken
By and by, Lord, by and by
There's a better home awaiting
In the sky, Lord, in the sky
I followed
Close behind her
Tried to hold up and be brave
But I could not
Hide my sorrow
When they laid her in the grave
Can the circle be unbroken
By and by, Lord, by and by
There's a better home awaiting
In the sky, Lord, in the sky
Can the circle be unbroken
By and by, Lord, by and by
There's a better home awaiting
In the sky, Lord, in the sky
posted by Mando Mama @ 8:55 PM
4 comments
4 Comments:
I am so, so sorry for your loss.
Much love,
Shameless
My deepest condolences. The only "parent" I have left is a mother-in-law, and I will surely miss her when she's gone. I was raised on Carter Family music. The Wildwood Flower was one of my bedtime lullabies (and one of the few songs my mother played on the guitar), and Will the Circle Be Unbroken will always make me cry when I think about in regards to losing someone, even though I don't believe in an afterlife (in the traditional sense). Maybe that makes the loss even sadder.
The memory of Carrie wanting to feel my hairy chect in the hot tub in Nags Head keeps coming back to me today.... so her energy must be real near-by!
Thanks all.
Blueberry, what a great memory from childhood. My mother sang to us but often it was that terrible song, "Everytime I go to town/The boys keep kickin' my dog around/Makes no difference if he is a hound/Gotta quit kickin my dog around..." Eeek! About death, and the finality, I think that's true. Then again, where does that energy go?
Shannon, that's the perfect Carrie story. Smiling and chuckling at those fun memories are so important. I hope there's more laughing than crying when my time comes. Thanks for being part of our unique extended family.
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