Complete Remission. My Mom died
September/October 2025
I had a lot of fun making these collage squares that I cut, then put back together. I have recently gotten away from specific soul collage and have been doing some for fun. They don’t necessarily have any “meaning”.
September 8th: I found out that I was in complete remission. What a relief and joyous day that was. I am so happy my mom was able to hear that news before she passed. I still have a long way to go physically and mentally, but to know I’m in remission is amazing.
My mom died 09/29/2025. I had been there a few days before, but had to leave and missed when she passed away. I also missed her funeral. Still can’t believe it. Fortunately, the funeral had a livestream link, and we were able to watch it. When they went to the grave site, my kids FaceTimed me so I could be a part of it. It had been my idea to have pink roses and for everyone to throw one for her. Because nothing had been dug yet, everyone put the roses on my dad’s headstone.
The “littles” all really enjoyed that, from what I’ve been told, and made them feel like they were a part of things. My mom had a lot of “carins” (human-made stone stacks) outside her house that were moved to the facility. When she died, the carins were brought to the grave site and stacked there. Everyone in the family was able to take a stone as a memento.
I miss talking to my mom. I talked to her every day and sometimes multiple times a day. I always thought it was for her — to make her feel better and cheer her up (which it did). But I’m learning that I got as much, if not more, out of those phone calls. It makes it glaringly obvious that I don’t have many friends. I would call her about the most mundane things, and of course, about sports. She loved watching the NBA (she would be so sad to know the Pacers aren’t doing too well this year), the WNBA, and professional football (Josh Allen and Joe Burrow were among her favorites).
Around the time of her passing, I made this collage. I put all the images together, turned them over, cut them at random, and placed them where I thought it made sense. It doesn’t have much meaning beyond the inclusion of the word “Mental Wellness.” I make art to help fulfill myself and, in turn, improve my mental well-being.
I need to find activities with others. For now, art is a good outlet. Miss you, Momma. (At the time of finishing the collage and writing about it, I was in the hospital again. I think that’s the 4th or 5th time this year. Angie
