Mom and I climbed the steep, cobblestone path that led to the top of the hill in Santorini, Greece. It was a Sunday.
“I doubt I can get to Mass,” she said. “There won’t be a Catholic Church here.”
I was intent on admiring God’s creation of the blue-blue Aegean Sea below. Huffing to the top, we spied an arch above us that proclaimed in writing: “Catholic Church. This way” with an arrow pointing to the left.
“That’s odd,” Mom said. “Especially since I just mentioned it.”
We found the rather large sized church and I peered through windows into darkness. It appeared desolate for a Sunday. The front door was locked, but I told mom I’d try a side door. It opened. We tiptoed into the shadows and sat in a pew. No others were in the church.
“At least we can pray,” mom whispered.
No sooner had we sat than a priest walked down the aisle to a small side altar. He did not acknowledge us, his back to us in the pre-Vatican II style, and began to celebrate Mass. When it was over, he walked away and left.
“What do you make of that?” Mom asked, somewhat baffled, as we squinted in the brilliant sun and white-washed buildings. I had no idea. The whole experience had felt other-worldly.
Ephesus was also a port of call on that cruise. I learned later that mom had secretly prayed for years that one day she could visit Mary’s House near that Biblical town. She doubted she ever would.
When I booked the trip, I had no idea Mary’s House was part of the itinerary.
We weren’t there long, but enough for mom to kneel and pray in the small home that tradition claims St. John took Mary after Jesus died.
******
Mom was a great traveling companion, so a few years later I found another trip, this time aboard the QE2. Mom had always dreamed of sailing her.
Not only that, Mary Higgins Clark, mom’s favorite mystery author, would be giving talks and a mystery dinner show on the high seas would challenge our detective wits.
The first night on board, mom lost her cell phone. It was late but I told her I’d go to the office and alert them. As I walked the empty hallway, I spotted the famous author ahead of me. She smiled at me and I asked if she had seen a lost phone, explaining what had happened.
“Don’t worry, dear. It will turn up,” she said. It did. And so did Clark. Again and again.
An extremely small sailing vessel for its time, I kept bumping into her everywhere — the ladies room, the lounge, even on the bus ride to the airport where she sat across from me. I’m sure she pegged me as a stalker or worse.
But for me, the trip was about mom. She met her writing idol. Solved a mystery. Sailed the QE2.
******
My dear late Joe hated travel. But for years, he baffled me. Every time a brochure for a Viking River Cruise would come in the mail, he’d prop it up on the kitchen table or next to the coffee maker or somewhere I would make sure to see it.
“What’s this about?” I’d ask. He’d reply with an enigmatic grin. I let it go.
Joe was Irish and had the “gift” and I often wondered what he knew and didn’t share.
After he died, I debated about a river cruise. I longed to take mom with me on one more great adventure. But she was growing older.
******
Mom was now using a walker and sometimes a wheelchair. She dreamed and talked of going places — to Nashville to visit her sister, back to Ephesus some day, perhaps to cruise the seas again. I had told her I was debating about a river cruise and how I wished she could go with me.
One frigid day in January of this year, I was driving her to the hospital ER. She was having heart issues and the thought of losing her crushed my own heart. From the passenger seat, she leaned over and placed her hand on my shoulder.
“You know that someday I’m going to die.”
Of course, I did. But the childlike part of me wanted her to live forever. Mom was my best friend. She always believed in my writing, encouraged me to never give up. I loved her.
As we pulled into the hospital parking lot, she looked at me, her voice filled with a quiet strength and conviction.
“I want you to promise me that you’re going to take that Viking River Cruise no matter what happens. Have fun and don’t let anything stop you.”
I don’t remember how I responded. But her words lodged deep in my soul.
Three months later, Mom died. I found her that morning in bed. She had gone peacefully in her sleep. I kissed her cheek and forehead. I placed my head on her chest and sobbed.
She had traveled to a place only she could go. Without me.
******
In August, I’ll be boarding a Viking longship, sailing from Paris to Prague. I’ll cry. They will be tears of sadness at losing mom and Joe. But they will also be tears of joy in knowing they wanted this trip for me.
And tears of gratitude that I was loved. Yes, so deeply loved.
Marielena,
What a beautiful summary of what has taken place in the past so many years, especially most recently.You are such a talented writer.Your dear sweet mother and your Joe wanted the excitement of travel, especially the Viking River cruise for you.
You acknowledge that you were loved. Clearly, you embrace the extraordinary, and I know that you believe and embrace that you are still loved by both of them.
May your journey be full of all that you deserve and more.
My love and prayers will be with you.
💕🙏💕
Love,
Loretta
My dearest friend Loretta, As always, thanks for your steadfast support and kind words. I’m so thankful for your friendship and for taking time to comment and read my writing and always being so supportive. My dear sweet mother and Joe will be with me on this trip! Love and blessings.
As always your loving words touch my heart so so deeply. So happy you are honoring Joe and your mother and going on the cruise. Please remember to ask them for very hard to miss signs letting you know they are sailing along with you! Much love, Sharon ♥️
You are SO kind, dear Sharon. I know you have had your own “loss” journey and I pray for healing and comfort for you and us all. I will definitely ask for signs from mom and Joe that they are sailing right along with me! Much love back at you, sweet friend! <3
Sweet sister, you really have the gift of tugging at the heart strings! Still wiping away the tears. You will not be alone on your upcoming river cruise, as you well know. Mom, Joe and your family too, will be loving you right along on your journey. And God will go with you. Dios por delante, Elena!
Then I have accomplished my writing mission if I’ve tugged at even one heart string! You know how much I loved mom, how much I miss her and how much I wish she were traveling with me on this river cruise. But I know that she will be with me — in spirit — along with Joe and other family. And yes, most of all, God will be with me. Dios por delante!! Love you both!
Marielena, you sure tugged at my heart strings with this beautiful story. Tears filled my eyes as I read it. I did not know Joe but, as you know, your mom and dad held a special place in my heart. They always spoke of you with great affection.
I think it’s wonderful that you are finally accomplishing a great wish they had for you. I’m sure your Mom, Joe and your Dad will be sailing along with God as the Captain! I can’t wait until your next blog telling us all about it! God bless and happy sailing!
Oh, dear Lisa! You are so kind to read my blog post and then respond. You know how much I loved mom and Dad and how blessed I was to have them as parents. I miss them both so much. But as you said, I know mom, dad and Joe (a very good man indeed!) will be sailing with me. And I love your words that God will be the Captain! Thanks so much for your good wishes and prayers for a safe and wonderful river cruise.
Thank you for your beautiful words and stories that warm many hearts, including mine. Tears in my eyes, feeling love for you and your mom, and remembering my mom too. xo. I’m so glad to receive your email stories, and would love to see you again on Facebook. Kris Moore
Thanks so much for your kind words, Kris. I’m so happy my post warmed your heart. It warmed mine, too, as I was writing it, remembering mom and all the wonderful memories traveling with her. I love her and miss her terribly! But happy to honor her in this post. Much love to you, Kris.
This is a lovely tribute to your mom and Joe. Best wishes for a lovely river cruise. Steve and I did it for an anniversary and it was the best trip ever. You were loved and I’m so glad you know it!
Thanks so much, Linda. I’m so excited to be taking this river cruise, knowing mom and Joe wanted this for me. And indeed, it’s such a gift to have been loved by two incredible people. I wish they could be physically with me on this trip but I know they’ll be with me in spirit.
Marielena, so wonderful to read your writing again! This is a truly beautiful post. It made me yearn to go to the places you and your mom went and reminded me so much of the love I shared with my own mother who died while living in my family’s home in 2013. I now live in the home she and my dad built together after World War II where I was raised. I feel so connected to her here. A mother’s love is always with us!
Gretchen, how absolutely wonderful to see you here!!! Thanks SO much for taking time to read my blog post and for taking time to comment. I’m sure you have many of your own beautiful memories of your mother, especially living in the home your parents built. I’ve always said that no one will ever love me as my mother did. How blessed I was to have her while I did.