A Mother's Love - A Daughter's Goodbye

Today's blog post is one of our favorite conversations between Waffles and Glogirly. As we say goodbye to two of Glogirly's dearest family members, it seemed so very fitting. Today's post is dedicated to Barbara and Dorothy, Glogirly's Godmother and dearest Aunt. Two women who have been like mothers to her.

WAFFLES:  So, Glogirly? 

GLOGIRLY:  Yes, Waffles?

WAFFLES:  Glogirly, are you really my mom? Because you don't really look like me. You don't even have orange fur or stripes or anything. But I really, really love you. You know, like a mom and stuff.

GLOGIRLY:  Of course I'm your mom, Waffles. I adopted you so that you'd be part of our family and we ALL could love you, take care of you, and spend our lives together. 

WAFFLES:  So even though you're not really a cat, you can still be my mom? Like forever and stuff

GLOGIRLY:  Forever and always. Forever and ever, Waffles.

WAFFLES:  And so that means you're Ellie's mom too, right? Forever and everything?

GLOGIRLY:  Forever and EVERYTHING.

The Phone Calls You Never Want to Receive

It's been a very sad week for Glogirly. The day after she returned from her llama hiking trip, she received two phone calls. The kind of calls you know will one day come, but you hope never do. Both her Godmother Barb and her Aunt Dorothy had suddenly passed away. Two beautiful women who have shaped who Glogirly is, two women living on opposite coasts, had passed away just hours apart. 

Remembering Barbara

This is Barbara, Glogirly's Godmother and her Godfather, Paul, smiling in the background during a visit they made to see us here in our mountain house in 2018. Barb loved cats SO much. They were an important part of her life, so having an opportunity to share a conversation with Waffles was a really big deal for her.

Barb and Waffles in  Colorado, 2018.

Barb's mother and Glogirly's mother were sisters, which also makes them cousins. But Barb was much, much more to Glogirly. An only child, Glogirly grew up knowing that if anything ever happened to her mom and dad, she would go live with her Godparents. And they would love her just like Glogirly's own mom and dad. 

Barb with her Buddy Boy in late 2022

The families lived far away from each other, so the visits were infrequent but very special. Glogirly and her dad were baptized together, with Barb and Paul by their sides. Many years later, when Glogirly was in her late 30s, she and Barb had an opportunity to send some time together and instantly became very close. They talked regularly and Glogirly found many opportunities to visit them in their Bedford, Massachusetts home. 

Barb was a stage 4 breast cancer survivor. One of Glogirly's most cherished memories was helping Barb throw a No More Cancer Party nearly 15 years ago. Sadly, just a couple of years ago, her cancer returned with a vengeance and had metastasized to her brain and bones. She bravely fought her battle. Glogirly is so grateful she was able to be with her many times over these past two years. They left nothing unsaid. Barbara was like a mother to Glogirly. And Glogirly was like a daughter to Barb. Sadly, Barb lost her battle and gained her angel wings.

Remembering Dorothy

Glogirly only met her Aunt Dorothy 16 years ago when searching for her birth family. Glogirly was adopted as a baby and though like most adopted kids, always had a curiosity about who she looked like, she never really had a burning desire to find her birth mother or birth family because she loved her parents so much. They always showed her how special she was and never felt like anything was missing.

 

Dorothy in Monterey, California, 2017.

In 2007, Glogirly received a non-identifying background report from the adoption agency that handled her case. She'd requested it in hopes of learning about any important health information. The report she received revealed so very much more and ignited a yearning she could not ignore.
Glogirly has written about her journey in Another Mother, It's a story she shares every Mother's Day here on the blog. One of the most meaningful relationships of Glogirly's life was born out of this search and this discovery of her birthmother's older sister, Dorothy.

Dorothy welcomed Glogirly into her family with open arms and an open heart. Her positivity and joyfulness were infectious. They could take for hours and never run out of things to say. Glogirly had an opportunity to visit Dorothy frequently and they became very close. Dorothy was a mother to Glogirly. And Glogirly was the daughter Dorothy (who had 3 sons) never had.

Dorothy and Glogirly at Dorothy's 90th birthday party in Santa Maria, CA this past May, 2023.

Just three months ago, Glogirly helped Dorothy celebrate her 90th birthday. Glogirly has called Dorothy her "hero." She hopes to live her life as Dorothy has. With joy, curiosity, a sense of adventure, and never passing up an opportunity to tell those she loves how important they are to her.

Dorothy passed away very suddenly and unexpectedly from complications due to a blood clot. Glogirly and Gloman had just spoken with her two weeks before and talked of the past, present, and future. Dorothy knew how much they loved her and what an impact she'd had on their lives.