When I got back from my honeymoon, I promised that would be the end of my ‘Just Married’ posts – however we’ve just got back our official wedding photos and one of them features the best pic of my Mum I’ve ever seen.
While I am sure she’ll not like it – us Campbell’s are not big fans of our own photos – what I adore is that apart from looking tops and ready to take a photo with the latest in digital camera technology [she is the most techno-savvy pensioner in the World!] she has the facial expression of someone truly enthralled, excited and alive.
Look at those eyes … look at that smile … look at that body language … she’s got more energy bursting out of her [nearly] 75 year old bones than I could ever hope to achieve even if I spent 9 weeks consuming copious amounts of Red Bull!!!
OK … so one level it’s a bit disappointing she’s like that for the ‘Diet coke fountain with dry ice’ as opposed to the actual ceremony of her only child getting married [ha] … but quite frankly, seeing her like that is the best present I could ever receive.
My Mum has been – and continues to be – a total rock in my life.
She is one of the most magnificent human beings I – and a lot of my friends – have ever had the privilege of knowing and the fact she’s my Mum makes it even better.
There’s been times when I’ve felt I’ve not been as good a son as she deserves … and even though I’ve never wanted to do anything that would upset her, I know I occasionally have … so it’s nice to know that even at age 37, I can still make her feel unbelievable joy and happiness – and getting married to Jill was definitely one of those times.
The thing is, my Mum hasn’t exactly had the easiest of lives – and I’m not talking about the fact of having me as her son – and yet she continues to go about life with a sense of positivity, empathy and desire that is nothing short of breathtaking.
She never complains, is always hungry to learn more [from Technology to Art to Politics to the Russian language – hopefully those last 2 aren’t inherently linked, ha] and, much to my annoyance, rarely puts herself first … she is just one of the most genuinely good people in the World and I’ll never forget how lucky I am to have her as one of my parents.
This photo encapsulates everything I love about my Mum … excited about life, interested in new things, funny, happy, inquisitive, beautiful – a young woman in slightly older skin … and I’m ecstatic it was taken at such an important event in all our lives.
Thanks Mum. For everything. I love you.
[PS: I also love the fact that on the far right of the pic you see Fred’s head – which is so similar to mine, the photo looks like it’s a mirror image. Poor bastard, fancy being mistaken for me – and yet even his daughter has made that grave mistake once, ha!]
[PS2: All the important women in my life are ill at the moment – so I hope they get better soon and I hope it has nothing to do with me, ha!]