Friday, November 14, 2008

How many words do you need?

Yesterday morning, Dave and I attempted to write my mother's obituary. It was 720 words long and our best first attempt to capture my mother's life in words. I emailed it to my brothers and sisters for comments. Suggested additions flew in through cyberspace throughout the day - all good, all valid. We were up to 757 words, but more were required.

Hmm, I thought, I'd better email the family journalist and find out how many words he wants. The answer was 400.

How can we do it? How can you give thanks for someone's life in a memorial service of 45 minutes? How can you tell the world how wonderful your mother was in 400 words? Do I feel another book coming on?

My mother is 6th from the left. She was 85 at the time.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Dear Sue,

Your mother looked like a great woman standing on the street with her sign. I am feeling for your sadness. The worst part of missing my mother was talking on the phone with her.

Sue Hepworth said...

Thank you, Radish. Yes, I keep thinking "Oh, I'll just ring mother" and then remembering I can't.