(October 7, 2023) I tried to prepare myself for the loss of my parents from an emotional standpoint. But that proved to be a fool’s errand. My mother died last year, and I still have moments of grief that are paralyzing. I also smile when I think of good memories like how my children would always sing The Temptations “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg” whenever one of her visits to South Bend came to an end and she packed to return to Gary. I also smile whenever I drive past a Dollar General store because we always had to go there whenever I went home to take her to a doctor’s appointment or take care of some other business.
(October 7, 2023) I tried to prepare myself for the loss of my parents from an emotional standpoint. But that proved to be a fool’s errand. My mother died last year, and I still have moments of grief that are paralyzing. I also smile when I think of good memories like how my children would always sing The Temptations “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg” whenever one of her visits to South Bend came to an end and she packed to return to Gary. I also smile whenever I drive past a Dollar General store because we always had to go there whenever I went home to take her to a doctor’s appointment or take care of some other business.
So, when I heard “Never Let Go,” the touching tribute that legendary balladeer Freddie Jackson penned for his mother, it was easy for me to see how the lyrics reflected the relationship I had with my mom. Jackson recalls singing with his mother as the two walked to church. Perhaps every little boy sang with his mom because one of my early memories is of me and my mom singing along with Marvin and Tammie on “Your Precious Love.”
Like Freddie Jackson and his mother, my mom and I had a bond that grew closer after my dad died and we leaned on each other to grieve and come to terms with his loss. She became a confidant and friend, and as her health declined, I evolved to caretaker and advocate. I miss her so much, but I have a lifetime of memories of a mother’s love – tough and gentle – that made me who I am, and I will hold onto those memories forever.
By Minnie Florence’s boy