{"id":114161,"date":"2023-07-05T03:27:39","date_gmt":"2023-07-05T09:27:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/?p=114161"},"modified":"2023-09-29T08:01:40","modified_gmt":"2023-09-29T14:01:40","slug":"i-lost-my-mom-yesterday","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2023\/07\/05\/i-lost-my-mom-yesterday\/","title":{"rendered":"I Lost My Mom Yesterday"},"content":{"rendered":"

My Mom, Sybill Reed<\/span><\/strong>
\nMay 17, 1932 – July 4, 2023<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
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It was hard to lose my mom yesterday, harder than even I imagined it would be. I lost my dad when I was very young so my mom was my rock. Mom was my supporter, my friend, my anchor when I needed to rest in a port, and my sails when I caught the wind.<\/p>\n

Part of the reason I have been brief on my posts over the last several months was because I went home to Virginia to help with her transition from living at home independently to living in a hospice facility. Her cancer had spread and she needed more care than she could get at home.<\/p>\n

My mom had lived in her apartment for 25 years and there was a lot for me to clear out, disperse to family members, and to my mom’s friends. I had my mom’s power of attorney and I was also handling her legal affairs. While I was in Virginia I went to the facility where my mom was every day. I’m so glad for every minute I was able to spend with her. By the time I left Virginia my mom was fading and it was still very hard to leave.<\/p>\n

To say goodbye to the woman who I love with all my heart was one of the hardest things I have had to do in my life.<\/p>\n

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My Mom at 90 years of age, photo taken in March 2023<\/p><\/div>\n

My mom might have left her body but she will always be with me, in my heart, and every time I am out in field surrounded by nature. She will be in the wind, the warmth of the sun, the songs of the birds, and scent of the earth.<\/p>\n

Yes. My sons, their families and I, along with my niece Kristal, her daughter Wren, and the multitude of friends my mom made over the years she walked this earth will miss her but her suffering has come to an end and we are all grateful for that.<\/p>\n

I will always love you, Mom. Love you to the moon and back.<\/p>\n

Mia<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

My mom might have left her body but she will always be with me, in my heart, and every time I am out in field surrounded by nature.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":114138,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[10893],"tags":[4313,10282,12433,14093,12883],"class_list":["post-114161","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-miscellaneous","tag-death","tag-life","tag-loss","tag-lost","tag-mom"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/sybill-kilbourne-mcpherson-reed-e1688521643262.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p11Mom-tHj","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":76602,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2020\/12\/31\/2020-photographic-year-in-review\/","url_meta":{"origin":114161,"position":0},"title":"2020 Photographic Year In Review","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"December 31, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"This is my 2020 photographic year in review. I'm selecting some of my favorite photos from 2020 and a few that just make me happy to see them.","rel":"","context":"In "Bald Eagles"","block_context":{"text":"Bald Eagles","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/diurnal-raptors\/bald-eagle\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Golden Eagle in flight, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/golden-eagle-flight-mia-mcpherson-9219.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/golden-eagle-flight-mia-mcpherson-9219.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/golden-eagle-flight-mia-mcpherson-9219.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/golden-eagle-flight-mia-mcpherson-9219.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":144022,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2025\/05\/10\/gray-treefrog-photo-and-audio-recording\/","url_meta":{"origin":114161,"position":1},"title":"Gray Treefrog Photo And Audio Recording","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"May 10, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"I wanted to share a brief Gray Treefrog audio recording I made last month. I finally got around to editing the clip yesterday.","rel":"","context":"In "Gray Treefrogs"","block_context":{"text":"Gray Treefrogs","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/wildlife\/gray-treefrogs\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Gray Treefrog clinging to a leaf, Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge, Oklahoma","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/gray-tree-frog-5361-mia-mcpherson-.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/gray-tree-frog-5361-mia-mcpherson-.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/gray-tree-frog-5361-mia-mcpherson-.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/gray-tree-frog-5361-mia-mcpherson-.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":142648,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2025\/04\/05\/spring-morning-bird-songs\/","url_meta":{"origin":114161,"position":2},"title":"Spring Morning Bird Songs","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"April 5, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Yesterday morning, in between storms, I sat outside and listened to bird songs. I decided to make a short recording and share photos of the birds I heard.","rel":"","context":"In "American Robins"","block_context":{"text":"American Robins","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/thrushes\/american-robins\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Squawking adult Blue Jay close up, Sebastian County, Arkansas","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/blue-jay-arkansas-colorful-mia-mcpherson-4852.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/blue-jay-arkansas-colorful-mia-mcpherson-4852.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/blue-jay-arkansas-colorful-mia-mcpherson-4852.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/blue-jay-arkansas-colorful-mia-mcpherson-4852.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":133770,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2024\/09\/04\/great-horned-owl-mystery\/","url_meta":{"origin":114161,"position":3},"title":"Great Horned Owl Mystery – Things That Go Hoot In The Night","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"September 4, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Yesterday morning, while it was still pitch dark outside, I heard a bird call. Then, I heard a Great Horned Owl hooting. I soon had a mystery on my hands.","rel":"","context":"In "Antelope Island State Park"","block_context":{"text":"Antelope Island State Park","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/antelope-island-state-park\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Great Horned Owl in Tamarisk looking right at me on Antelope Island State Park, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/great-horned-owl-female-perched-mia-mcpherson-thumbnail-1018.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/great-horned-owl-female-perched-mia-mcpherson-thumbnail-1018.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/great-horned-owl-female-perched-mia-mcpherson-thumbnail-1018.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":89172,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2021\/05\/27\/violet-green-swallow-photos\/","url_meta":{"origin":114161,"position":4},"title":"Violet-green Swallow Photos","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"May 27, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Yesterday I was able to take the Violet-green Swallow photos that I have been dreaming of since I first moved to Utah in 2009.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":74023,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2020\/09\/24\/photographing-my-first-green-heron-in-northern-utah\/","url_meta":{"origin":114161,"position":5},"title":"Photographing My First Green Heron In Northern Utah","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"September 24, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"It was a terrific \"season opener\" for me yesterday thanks to my keen observation skills at Farmington Bay WMA with a Green Heron, one-eared Long-tailed Weasel and a one-eyed American White Pelican.","rel":"","context":"In "American White Pelicans"","block_context":{"text":"American White Pelicans","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/pelicans\/white-pelicans\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Sub-adult Green Heron catching prey in Utah, Farmington Bay WMA, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/green-heron-immature-farmington-bay-mia-mcpherson-3975.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/green-heron-immature-farmington-bay-mia-mcpherson-3975.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/green-heron-immature-farmington-bay-mia-mcpherson-3975.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/green-heron-immature-farmington-bay-mia-mcpherson-3975.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/114161","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=114161"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/114161\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/114138"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=114161"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=114161"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=114161"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}