Originally published September 26, 2013

Dear Ma,

It’s been three years, and it still hurts.

They say that time heals a broken heart, but that’s not true, because I still miss and love you very much.

I wish that I could have seen you before you passed – to be with you and hold your hand one last time.

I miss talking to you on the phone, and I miss telling you how much I love you and hearing you tell me how much you love me.

These are a few photos of my dear Ma:

Although I attended Ma’s funeral in Oshawa, Ontario, I had to fly back to Vancouver the next day. I asked my sister to read this poem at the burial ceremony:

When you thought I wasn’t looking,
I saw you hang my first painting on the refrigerator,
and I wanted to paint another one.

When you thought I wasn’t looking,
I saw you feed a stray cat,
and I thought it was good to be kind to animals.

When you thought I wasn’t looking,
I saw you make my favorite cake for me,
and I knew that little things are special things.

When you thought I wasn’t looking,
I heard you say a prayer,
and I believed that there was a God to talk to.

When you thought I wasn’t looking,
I felt you kiss me goodnight,
and I felt loved.

When you thought I wasn’t looking,
I saw tears come from your eyes,
and I learned that sometimes things hurt,
but it’s alright to cry.

When you thought I wasn’t looking,
I saw that you cared,
and I wanted to be everything that I could be.

When you thought I wasn’t looking,
I looked…. and I wanted to say thanks for all the things
I saw when you thought I wasn’t looking.

Author: Mary Rita Schilke Sill

Update: August 17, 2025

It’s now been fifteen years since my dear Ma passed away, and it still hurts.

My dear Ma was the first person I saw when I was born.

She was the first girl I fell in love with, and I will always treasure my memories of her.

Please, please, please… if your Mom is still alive – visit her!

If you cannot see her, at least call her daily.

Don’t forget to tell her how much you love her.

It will make her feel so loved and proud of you.

If your Mom has passed – visit her gravesite regularly.

Dedicated to my dear Ma.

I hope my stories are a gift to your head and heart.

Hugs,

Little Danny

Today’s tune from Danny’s library (purchased):

There must be something about her
That you love, don’t you, dear?
Something about her

She was kinder to me than most girls would ever be
I’m over the moon, and I’m sad to see it end so soon
Oh, what have I done? I’ve never thought this way for love
Convinced that it is all because

There must be something about her that you love, don’t you, dear?
Something about her terrifies all my fears
She sits in a smile, with eyеs looking through
What’s the point of all this music if I’m not here to dancе with you?
There must be something about her.

It’d be wiser for me to run away from all I see
I can’t resist. What good is love if not to miss?
Your hands or your eyes, or the way that yours just look in mine?
I’d die to live for any little part of this.

There must be something about her that you love, don’t you, dear?
Something about her terrifies all my fears
She sits in a smile, with eyes looking through
What’s the point of all this music if I’m not here to dance with you?
There must be something about her.

(Ooh, ooh, ooh)
Must be something about her

Songwriters: Stephen Sanchez & Ian Fitchuk

Here are other songs I’m listening to: These Songs Will Make You Smile Today.