tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6239796424430952907.post4254554910220931845..comments2023-09-20T00:13:37.931-04:00Comments on One Good Thing: One Month: RememberingMandy Hitchcockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14365577216317740232noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6239796424430952907.post-45522722939803855872010-08-08T15:55:18.047-04:002010-08-08T15:55:18.047-04:00So lovely. I particularly liked your description o...So lovely. I particularly liked your description of Hudson looking at the ants. That made me smile, your clever little girl. xCatherine Whttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01618295389400457254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6239796424430952907.post-78969175266800651862010-06-15T22:03:11.372-04:002010-06-15T22:03:11.372-04:00Coming to you from MaTante: My mother, aged 20 at...Coming to you from MaTante: My mother, aged 20 at the time, married short of a year, lost her first baby. He lived only an hour. Mother birthed 5 more children, but always when asked, she said she had 6. We of course never knew him, but included our "Baby Brother" when we described our family. The hole in Mother's heart was precious and permanent throughtout her life and she passed on to us an inclusion of nuturing a love for him. Do you remember the Wordsworth poem, "We are Seven"? Recently I was at the old family cemetary lot in Greenville, SC. I reached down to touch the wee headstone. "Who is that?" I was asked. "My Baby Brother"...the reply. Hudson has a permanent spot in many hearts. She will never NOT be there. Years ago I read a little verse. Loosely remembered it went somewhat like this:<br /> "And in the long ago<br /> So bitterly that I wept<br /> The babe I mourned as lost that day<br /> Is the only one I kept."<br />Welcome Hudson; welcome to a forever spot in my heart.....a Great GrandAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6239796424430952907.post-36088404947440160252010-06-15T16:56:59.889-04:002010-06-15T16:56:59.889-04:00One of the many things I have learned from you and...One of the many things I have learned from you and Ed losing your sweet Hudson is to try to slow down and enjoy every moment I have with my daughter. Life can change so fast. I am terribly sorry yours has.Libbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09539959128237986776noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6239796424430952907.post-88017857397440294722010-06-15T14:16:04.589-04:002010-06-15T14:16:04.589-04:00I just wanted to second what others have mentioned...I just wanted to second what others have mentioned here of how much joy I felt reading this post--feeling Hudson's vibrance, yours too--and I hope you'll feel up to sharing more vivid memories of her like this. You have such a voice, Mandy: so articulate, so genuine, so authentically you.Ninahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13177266364699756265noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6239796424430952907.post-10253527340977041972010-06-14T20:03:09.557-04:002010-06-14T20:03:09.557-04:00I always admired how truly fulfilled you seemed by...I always admired how truly fulfilled you seemed by motherhood-- it didn't have to be the only thing in your life, but when you were in that place, you were in it fully. I have often hoped this month that somehow your complete joy in being Hudson's mother might somehow help you get through this-- your memories are all sweet. That in itself is a gift. It is so utterly wrong tht you have to go on without Hudson, but continue to celebrate your memories of her.Melissahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01171863825834003035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6239796424430952907.post-30694067313942819162010-06-14T14:51:52.251-04:002010-06-14T14:51:52.251-04:00My heart breaks with every sentence.My heart breaks with every sentence.Melynnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15073730670355440971noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6239796424430952907.post-1475354278994869772010-06-14T12:55:28.335-04:002010-06-14T12:55:28.335-04:00Mandy, at the risk of opening the proverbial flood...Mandy, at the risk of opening the proverbial floodgates, I hope you will post more of these stories. Hudson was a person of joy nad inspiraton to us all, and while none of us will travel the road exactly as you and Ed travel it, we miss many such similar moments as well. You are right to rejoice in the memory of looking at ants and rolling down hills - those are the first gifts Hudson gave to you.Philip H.https://www.blogger.com/profile/12049875206738422083noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6239796424430952907.post-89748896179651567392010-06-14T11:56:18.054-04:002010-06-14T11:56:18.054-04:00My sweet Mandy. I love this post so much. I read...My sweet Mandy. I love this post so much. I read and re-read it. It was a moment with Hudson and all her wonderment. It reminds all of us how precious those moments are. I could literally see each moment you were describing and her little face as she saw the world. Thank you for letting others into your memories - - they are wonderful memories and with each one Hudson lives on. Love you so.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6239796424430952907.post-71065653652113564382010-06-14T11:05:43.389-04:002010-06-14T11:05:43.389-04:00Mandy, your friends said it perfectly above, about...Mandy, your friends said it perfectly above, about moving forward versus moving on. I think of you often. Although I never got to meet Hudson, I feel I've gotten a glimpse of her through Facebook and here.<br /><br />Your post yesterday recalls a family I know who lost their young son, Sam, to cancer. I always remember the way they said there will never be a "before Sam" and "after Sam;" there will only be "before Sam" and because of Sam." So it is with Hudson. There is no "after Hudson," since she will forever be a part of you. But even the "returning to normal" and the pockets of joy you will hopefully begin to feel in increasing quantity as you move forward (not on)-- will always be (consciously or not) in part because of Hudson. Much love to you, Deborah.Deborahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02388953300307342437noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6239796424430952907.post-695133211170165872010-06-13T23:24:40.001-04:002010-06-13T23:24:40.001-04:00Another extra tough day for you both, I know. Tod...Another extra tough day for you both, I know. Today we celebrated Hudson's memory with bubbles at the Brookland picnic. Lots and lots of them. Her beauty floated everywhere. For today, I send you strength!Mandihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11629289260212681873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6239796424430952907.post-58080261932831821682010-06-13T21:27:47.693-04:002010-06-13T21:27:47.693-04:00Mandy, thank you for sharing this. this One Good ...Mandy, thank you for sharing this. this One Good Thing has once again helped me notice the many small blessings around me. love, leighLeigh Morgannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6239796424430952907.post-11643327422588359172010-06-13T21:27:04.226-04:002010-06-13T21:27:04.226-04:00How beautifully you've captured these memories...How beautifully you've captured these memories. You're a beautiful writer, Mandy, and a beautiful mother. I loved reading your mommy Facebook status updates about everyday things, because most often, I found myself nodding my head and relating to them. (When I didn't relate, it was usually because you were describing Hudson's brilliant precociousness or hitting some milestone early that we hadn't yet experienced here!) <br /><br />I sometimes catch myself hurrying through things with my children, and lately when this happens, I think of Hudson, and of you and Ed, and I try to relax and savor the little moments, not worrying if bedtime slips a few minutes or if I have to re-fill the watering can because Henry has watered the rocks instead of the plants.Andreahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06934086303273850194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6239796424430952907.post-63791238065815947232010-06-13T21:16:36.158-04:002010-06-13T21:16:36.158-04:00Mandy, your words, as always, are so beautiful. Th...Mandy, your words, as always, are so beautiful. Thank you for sharing them and for reminding us all of the beauty in the small moments. I often remember laying on my back with my mom laying next to me on the grass when I was a little, little kid and looking up at the clouds and we would say the animals and things we saw in the clouds. What could be more mundane, really? But like your St. Ann's pick ups and the stops to explore the ants and the trees and the blades of grass, that's where the beauty is. Thank you for the gifts you and Hudson continue to give us and for helping us remember to be thankful for the times that seem rushed, hectic or mundane. Love, Kate Ackley Z.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6239796424430952907.post-12816443913370418622010-06-13T21:03:44.750-04:002010-06-13T21:03:44.750-04:00The month mark must be a hard one. So much of what...The month mark must be a hard one. So much of what you say about the daycare pickup ritual is so familiar, of course. I thought your way of putting Hudson on the cubbies to get her jacket on was innovative...and enjoyed seeing you guys whenever I did pickup--because I also rush out of my office at 5 to make it to St Ann's by 5:40 or so. And I sometimes drag Elliot past the grass and the bugs and the birds so we can get home. But Hudson's too short life has taught me not to rush and to enjoy the bugs and the grass a bit more. And that is One Good Thing.<br /><br />Hugs, <br />SusanAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6239796424430952907.post-64565204324091925562010-06-13T20:54:29.158-04:002010-06-13T20:54:29.158-04:00I remember seeing one of your facebook status upda...I remember seeing one of your facebook status updates several months back that simply said "I truly do love my child". I don't know what she did that inspired that post, but I imagined that it was some every day, adorable thing that just put a big smile on your face. And it made me smile thinking about it. It just kind of stuck with me for some reason... just how the little moments, especially with kids, bring so much joy.Lindsayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02288791714855741814noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6239796424430952907.post-53126565800331677152010-06-13T20:47:04.115-04:002010-06-13T20:47:04.115-04:00Mandy, you simply amaze me. Many hugs xxxMandy, you simply amaze me. Many hugs xxxkelly seymournoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6239796424430952907.post-63096007648157495852010-06-13T20:44:36.523-04:002010-06-13T20:44:36.523-04:00It always brightened my day when I saw you and Hud...It always brightened my day when I saw you and Hudson during one of these evenings at St. Ann's. It always made a long day brighter to see your joy in seeing Hudson. We all miss her so much.<br /><br />We learned last night from Philip and Nat that Hudson's things remain as she left them, her drawer and cubby still marked with her name.<br /><br />I've made a point of getting to know Ms. Barbara this last month, not to mention other parents, children and caregivers. It's a lesson Hudson taught me.Shawn Zellerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03731177329678772824noreply@blogger.com