The following is the complete speech I gave at my mom’s memorial today:
I remember being 4 years old, lying in bed next to my mom. She was telling me stories to help me sleep.
“Mom”, I asked her, “is magic real?”
She thought for a moment, “of course it is.”
I sat up in bed, suddenly excited and my mom leaned in, her voice was a conspiratorial whisper. “I’ve moved things with my mind.”
My eyes went wide. I can remember trying to keep my excitement under control, slowing my heartbeat deliberately with my breath.
“Can you do it right now?”
“Not right now, you can only do magic when you have a reason for it.”
I slumped in the bed, disappointed.
“When will I have a reason? How will I know how to do it when I need it?”
She leaned in further towards me, her whispering even quieter.
“I promise you’ll know just how to do the magic you need to. You can do anything you want to. Everything you can think of is possible.”
My young mind churned that night, trying to intellectualize the words she had said to me. But it took me 14 more years to fully understand them.
Because everything truly is possible. I am capable of anything. How mom, could I continue life without you, if I was not capable of magic?
As I examine the time my mom and I had together, 18 full years, I realize that there was not one moment of that time in which she was not teaching me a lesson for life.
Many people in this room know what it feels to have had Julie Holmes create richness and happiness in their lives, but I was given the gift of a relentlessly wonderful mother. Every one of the many stars that shine in my life are due to my mother and her teachings.
Slowly, deliberately, she gave me everything I would ever need. She opened my mind, my heart, and my consciousness, so that I could receive gifts I will never lose.
The last words my mother ever said to me directly, through a haze of pain medication and weakness, were “Good luck. Go inspire people.”
Well mom. I promise to do just that. I can feel you your presence today, and I will love you forever.
Thank you.
And as an added piece, here is a speech I gave about 6 months ago for speech class about my mom:
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i’m writing a random thing to my mom to thank her for always being in my life and when i saw what you wrote about your mom i was so shocked, it was so beautiful and your mom will be really touched and proud of you. You inspired me. I hope you live life to the fullest. Your mom will be really proud.