In Memory Of Tammy’s Mom

This is a hard post to write, but one that must be written. It’s taken me awhile to get to the point where I can actually write this out. We found out on September 1st, that Tammy’s mom, Gloria Hemenway, passed away. She had been battling Type II Diabetes for a long time. I knew she was in and out of hospitals, but I still thought she had a long time to go. She had to get around on scooters, as walking was difficult for her, but she was still so young, only 59. I was totally unprepared for that police officer at our door to tell us the news.

The kids stayed at Grandma’s house, while Scott and I drove back to New Hampshire to take care of the arrangements. It was so weird walking into my mom’s apartment without her there. It just felt weird, like I expected her to walk through the door at any minute…but of course that didn’t happen. I know she’s in a better place, and not in pain anymore, so I must take peace in that. She left behind 2 children and 4 grandchildren.

My brother, Kevin Hemenway, has been estranged from the family for years, even my mom. We’re not exactly sure why. My brother hasn’t wanted much to do with me since I left home to get married 14 years ago. My mom was able to get him to stay home, once, when I came to visit, and that is how we have these last family pictures.  Here’s a little bit about Kevin from his O’Reilly media bio:  Kevin Hemenway, coauthor of Mac OS X Hacks and author of Spidering Hacks, is better known as Morbus Iff, the creator of disobey.com, which bills itself as “content for the discontented.” Publisher and developer of more home cooking than you could ever imagine, he’d love to give you a Fry Pan of Intellect upside the head. Politely, of course. And with love.

Kevin, from what I read on his website, is doing well. He has 2 daughters of his own, and I wish I could be a part of their lives. I’m an aunt, but I don’t feel like one. The only pictures I’ve seen of my nieces have been the ones he’s posted on his website. I tried to contact him while I was home, but he hung up on me, and then wouldn’t answer the phone any other time I tried to call. I wish it didn’t have to be this way. I’d like to have contact with him, and his family.

My mom met both of my kids. Cole was a newborn the last time she saw him, but was always updated through yearly pictures, and she was an avid reader of our blog. Brittany remembers her as she was 5 at the time of our last visit. Brittany took her death a little harder. When I was back in Concord, my mom’s closest friends, all told me how proud she was of me, and how happy she would get when she got new pictures, or heard from me. It was nice to hear from other people how she really felt about me. I just wish my mom had told me those things personally, but she just wasn’t one of those emotional kinds of people.

Mom, if you can read this from heaven, this post is for you. I miss you more than you know. The layout at the top and this one is made with a kit called Spirit of the Wolf that Sherah Kraan made for me in honor of my mom, who loved wolves and embraced the spirit of the wolf.

To see pictures of Gloria Hemenway, Kevin Hemenway, and me when we were younger, click here!