Rest in Peace Mum.

On Saturday the 29th of July 2023 between the hours of 2 and 6am in the morning my mother Muriel Griffiths passed peacefully away after a short and difficult battle with terminal cancer of the spine and liver. She was 86 years 4 months 23 days old. Born on the 7th of March 1937 in Mangotsfield, Bristol she entered into a world three years before the start of World War 2, a global conflict that lasted from 1939 to 1945. She moved with her mother back to Wales after her father and mother’s short and turbulent relationship ended prematurely. The street next to her in Wales was bombed and completely destroyed. Such was the charm and good fortune that was often to grace my mother’s long and creative life. My mother held many different guises over the years; mother, secretary, receptionist, typist, auxiliary and district nurse, carer, chef and restaurant owner (after getting her City and Guilds in Professional Food and Beverage Service and completing an internship with Joyce Molyneux at The Carved Angel), an extra actor in various Hollywood films (including an uncredited appearance as a wedding guest in My Best Friend’s Wedding) animal sitting business owner (with the odd Hollywood director as a client), property manager, cleaning business owner, ultrasound scan company owner, market researcher, author, collector, chutney, and jam maker and one hell of a funny, kind, generous, selfless, compassionate, and wonderful human being one could ever hope to meet. After being my mother’s carer for over ten years and then recently a palliative carer for just slightly over two months I’m tired, exhausted, emotional, and extremely grateful for having the opportunity of helping a friend who’s quick thinking literally saved my life on more than one occasion during my childhood. Indeed, throughout my life she has shown towards me care and support that have enriched my existence. I’m happy that I’ve been able to be of service and a good son. I’m completely devastated that she’s now gone, leaving a vast hollow chasm that is now punctuated with rituals, tea, and processing the long and slow administration of her affairs. Her presence is still here. Her profound, fecund, and supernatural essence is still swirling like a vortex. I catch glimpses here and there of her deep and underlying wisdom. I listen to the early morning bird song create symphonies for her. I feed the local cat Max she charmed and befriended who still appears at the kitchen window expecting to see her. I begin to see and feel the full and true extent of this spiritual being’s empire of kindness. I’m humbled by the countless people’s lives she touched, helped, and changed forever. I’m in awe of the shining and transcendental goddess that birthed me into this impermanent world. May her transition and journey through the bardos, the intermediate, transitional, liminal states between death and rebirth, be brief and totally unhindered. Lo! Wrathful deities beware! A warrior goddess approaches! Move aside and bow down to her while recognising her sublime and considerable accomplishments. May she journey forth, finally residing in the pure Buddha Lands for a hundred thousand kalpas, where she will continue to help and aid sentient beings with her unconditional love and kindness. I will always love you mum x