Having lived and played indoor and outdoor basketball in urban areas, I liked it when, just before taking the first warm-up shot, some kid would say, “This one’s for all the brothers who couldn’t be here today.”
Beautifully expressed thanks. I hope we continue to be a "Coronamaniacs’ nightmare". And I hope we can be really good at telling each other stories that matter.
Really? In school libraries? Regular libraries? My daughter grew up on that book!!! What's the "problem" someone has with the book??? (good thing I still have a copy!)
"Where the Wild Things Are is a children’s book written and illustrated by Maurice Sendak in 1963. Sendak spent 4 years in a tug of war with editors over the content of the storyline, but eventually won out, and the book saw print in 1967. Despite objections over the content, and being banned around the country immediately after its release, it went on to win dozens of awards, including the coveted Caldecott Medal for the most distinguished American picture book, and the affection of generations of fans"
Wikipedia says the author "claimed" the book had been banned, but their citation says nothing about this.
Another great one. You're fortunate to have that type of closure.
List of groups/things that have violated and permanently damage my/our trust.
- The media....all of it
- The health care system
- Local/State/Federal governments
- The Democratic party....and most Republicans
- The UN and the WHO
The whole system is rotten to the core. This whole Covid BS has proven we live in rigged casino where the Uber Wealthy hold all the cards and have nothing but utter disdain for the 'Common man'..
The greatest words of your tribute- "she made me feel cared about". Indeed, the greatest thing that a child could ever feel, if he's 5 years old or 55.
The illogical and irrational separation of loved ones during covidmania was designed to separate families with fear and to further their evil design of control. It is unforgivable!
Thanks for writing about your family experience and especially sharing your tribute to your Mom! As usual, a story that lifted my spirit and brought a smile to my face.
Jan 23, 2023·edited Jan 24, 2023Liked by Mark Oshinskie
Both my grandmothers died “during covid.” (One from the shot, though no one else in my family will believe it. That’s not the point here.) The grandma on the one side of the family had a months-delayed Zoom funeral and years-later, in person memorial that some (young and healthy) family members still didn’t attend because of germaphobia. She was our larger-than -life matriarch. It was obscene that that was the lameass sendoff she got. My other grandma got a small, socially distanced, timely, masked funeral with no reception afterwards. My family had driven 8 hours to be there and then were said goodbye to outside and sent on our way back home to drive another 8 hours since no family wanted house guests afterward. I grieved while staring out the car window on the way home - aching emotionally and physically since I had spent so much time sitting in the car. I was contrasting that second grandma’s funeral with the decade-earlier funeral of my grandpa, her husband. Their house had been full of fellow mourners that day. We had eaten, cried, laughed and remembered together at my grandfather’s funeral. That was back when humanity was easy to come by. Really, I grieve alone still for the loss of my entire extended family- both sides. They obediently did what their tv told them to do.
Such a beautiful tribute to your mom. Thank you for remembering all who have been denied fellowship, in death and in life. We are still banned from visiting my husband's elderly aunt. She has no children of her own, she has been widowed for more than 25 years. My children love her very much, and we always made an annual trip up to see her, with lots of calls in between. We last went in February 2020. We would make the eight hour journey any time, but the assisted living facility in which she resides only allows the vaccinated. We have lost so much over the past three years. I am glad that you had a beautful send-off for your mother.
I live in the South Pacific, and because I am unvaxxed and not a US citizen, PedoBiden's public health bureaucrats will not let me into the US to visit my siblings. I used to visit them 3 times a year. If I were an illegal alien walking over the southern border, no one would care about my vaxx status. It's such a farce, and our overlords love to rub our faces in it.
God made us for fellowship; that connection was brutally severed by TPTB.
2 suicides in my small town in less than 2 weeks. I believe, while other issues were in play, these sad endings were spawned by that brutal separation.
There are a lot of people under that umbrella, Mark -- "...those who implemented or supported the Covid overreaction." It's the vast majority.
I wonder at times about my same stance on forgetting or forgiving. Perhaps I do need to work on getting to the forgiving part so that I may be forgiven for my sins when the time comes. I'll try. No promises, though. The sins of the majority have been too vast, too egregious.
I will for the rest of my days assume that every...single...person I meet is untrustworthy with the most precious and meaningful thing we have -- our freedom. They proved it in no uncertain terms. They showed their true colors. I'll be polite, of course, but I will have to assume enemy status of all to all that is truly good and decent until proven otherwise.
It has been said that you can tell a lot about a man by how he treats his Mother. This tribute says it all. Having met you, I knew you were raised by a wonderful woman. Thank you for sharing this beautiful story.
Mark, what a beautiful and moving account of your mother's service. After reading your final words, one thing came to mind. I can never and will never forgive or forget what that POS governor of ours did to the people of this state. People he swore to serve and protect. He needs to be held accountable and pay for his abuses of power and trust. The depths of hell are too good for him and his enablers. I need to see these people pay a real price for their choice of punishing the public and destroying families.
Jan 23, 2023·edited Jan 23, 2023Liked by Mark Oshinskie
Mark,
This brings tears to my eyes. Thank you. And the tears are for what was not lost, but stolen from us. I feel grief for this loss; grief for those who suffered through losing a loved one in a separated state. I have no words for people who thought it was ok, or even correct, to allow people to die and to mourn alone. It’s so unbelievably painful.
In a time of loss, and we’ve witnessed such a loss of life (our way of life too), freedom, common sense and decency, and at such a quick pace these past few years, we become often vulnerable, or ferociously protective, such as I’ve found myself feeling.
Because as you say, the inspiration (if we’re lucky, and you and your family certainly were having your mom, which was no accident) that comes from remembering and honoring those who came before us or left before us, is essential in our grieving and healing.
We need more inspiring people on this planet. We need inspiration. The kids need it especially.
My aunt died last week, the funeral was Friday. I had similar thoughts as we mourned and celebrated a life well loved and lived. My condolences to you, Mark. May their memories be eternal. ♥️✝️
Beautiful tribute, Mark.
As to the covid restrictions that tore apart families and kept us from dying relatives, one word: demonic.
This is a beautiful tribute.
Your writing embraces your readers' and makes us feel like a part of your family.
Thank you.
Just beautiful. I’m left a bit teary-eyed.
Wholeheartedly agree with Amking’s comment. 👆 Thank you, Mark. 🙏🏻
Beautifully expressed thanks. I hope we continue to be a "Coronamaniacs’ nightmare". And I hope we can be really good at telling each other stories that matter.
"Let the wild rumpus begin."
(From Where the Wild Things Are - a banned book)
Really? In school libraries? Regular libraries? My daughter grew up on that book!!! What's the "problem" someone has with the book??? (good thing I still have a copy!)
"Where the Wild Things Are is a children’s book written and illustrated by Maurice Sendak in 1963. Sendak spent 4 years in a tug of war with editors over the content of the storyline, but eventually won out, and the book saw print in 1967. Despite objections over the content, and being banned around the country immediately after its release, it went on to win dozens of awards, including the coveted Caldecott Medal for the most distinguished American picture book, and the affection of generations of fans"
Wikipedia says the author "claimed" the book had been banned, but their citation says nothing about this.
Another great one. You're fortunate to have that type of closure.
List of groups/things that have violated and permanently damage my/our trust.
- The media....all of it
- The health care system
- Local/State/Federal governments
- The Democratic party....and most Republicans
- The UN and the WHO
The whole system is rotten to the core. This whole Covid BS has proven we live in rigged casino where the Uber Wealthy hold all the cards and have nothing but utter disdain for the 'Common man'..
Good luck escaping this god awful Matrix.
Democrat party…..nothing Democratic about them!
The greatest words of your tribute- "she made me feel cared about". Indeed, the greatest thing that a child could ever feel, if he's 5 years old or 55.
The illogical and irrational separation of loved ones during covidmania was designed to separate families with fear and to further their evil design of control. It is unforgivable!
Thanks for writing about your family experience and especially sharing your tribute to your Mom! As usual, a story that lifted my spirit and brought a smile to my face.
Thanks, Mike.
Yes, everyone needs to feel cared about. That bedtime routine made me feel that way.
Both my grandmothers died “during covid.” (One from the shot, though no one else in my family will believe it. That’s not the point here.) The grandma on the one side of the family had a months-delayed Zoom funeral and years-later, in person memorial that some (young and healthy) family members still didn’t attend because of germaphobia. She was our larger-than -life matriarch. It was obscene that that was the lameass sendoff she got. My other grandma got a small, socially distanced, timely, masked funeral with no reception afterwards. My family had driven 8 hours to be there and then were said goodbye to outside and sent on our way back home to drive another 8 hours since no family wanted house guests afterward. I grieved while staring out the car window on the way home - aching emotionally and physically since I had spent so much time sitting in the car. I was contrasting that second grandma’s funeral with the decade-earlier funeral of my grandpa, her husband. Their house had been full of fellow mourners that day. We had eaten, cried, laughed and remembered together at my grandfather’s funeral. That was back when humanity was easy to come by. Really, I grieve alone still for the loss of my entire extended family- both sides. They obediently did what their tv told them to do.
Such a beautiful tribute to your mom. Thank you for remembering all who have been denied fellowship, in death and in life. We are still banned from visiting my husband's elderly aunt. She has no children of her own, she has been widowed for more than 25 years. My children love her very much, and we always made an annual trip up to see her, with lots of calls in between. We last went in February 2020. We would make the eight hour journey any time, but the assisted living facility in which she resides only allows the vaccinated. We have lost so much over the past three years. I am glad that you had a beautful send-off for your mother.
I live in the South Pacific, and because I am unvaxxed and not a US citizen, PedoBiden's public health bureaucrats will not let me into the US to visit my siblings. I used to visit them 3 times a year. If I were an illegal alien walking over the southern border, no one would care about my vaxx status. It's such a farce, and our overlords love to rub our faces in it.
God made us for fellowship; that connection was brutally severed by TPTB.
2 suicides in my small town in less than 2 weeks. I believe, while other issues were in play, these sad endings were spawned by that brutal separation.
God Bless you and your family. I am very happy that all of you could be together.
You had a very good mom. My mom also stayed at home.
They were the greatest generation. My mom went to Heaven in 2016 at 93.
My daddy is 99, I care for him every day. I try to make him laugh about crazy stuff.
Thank you for sharing your very heart filled week-end
❤️
There are a lot of people under that umbrella, Mark -- "...those who implemented or supported the Covid overreaction." It's the vast majority.
I wonder at times about my same stance on forgetting or forgiving. Perhaps I do need to work on getting to the forgiving part so that I may be forgiven for my sins when the time comes. I'll try. No promises, though. The sins of the majority have been too vast, too egregious.
I will for the rest of my days assume that every...single...person I meet is untrustworthy with the most precious and meaningful thing we have -- our freedom. They proved it in no uncertain terms. They showed their true colors. I'll be polite, of course, but I will have to assume enemy status of all to all that is truly good and decent until proven otherwise.
It has been said that you can tell a lot about a man by how he treats his Mother. This tribute says it all. Having met you, I knew you were raised by a wonderful woman. Thank you for sharing this beautiful story.
Mark, what a beautiful and moving account of your mother's service. After reading your final words, one thing came to mind. I can never and will never forgive or forget what that POS governor of ours did to the people of this state. People he swore to serve and protect. He needs to be held accountable and pay for his abuses of power and trust. The depths of hell are too good for him and his enablers. I need to see these people pay a real price for their choice of punishing the public and destroying families.
Send the governor of Michigan with him
Thanks for the lovely tribute. You’re a good son. ♥️
P.s. I loved Toby Tyler too
Mark,
This brings tears to my eyes. Thank you. And the tears are for what was not lost, but stolen from us. I feel grief for this loss; grief for those who suffered through losing a loved one in a separated state. I have no words for people who thought it was ok, or even correct, to allow people to die and to mourn alone. It’s so unbelievably painful.
In a time of loss, and we’ve witnessed such a loss of life (our way of life too), freedom, common sense and decency, and at such a quick pace these past few years, we become often vulnerable, or ferociously protective, such as I’ve found myself feeling.
Because as you say, the inspiration (if we’re lucky, and you and your family certainly were having your mom, which was no accident) that comes from remembering and honoring those who came before us or left before us, is essential in our grieving and healing.
We need more inspiring people on this planet. We need inspiration. The kids need it especially.
Thank you.
My aunt died last week, the funeral was Friday. I had similar thoughts as we mourned and celebrated a life well loved and lived. My condolences to you, Mark. May their memories be eternal. ♥️✝️
Beautiful. What a legacy she has left. May God give you peace.