My mom passed away this year. Media memories help me keep her close
I want to share something personal with you. It’s about my mom, who is my best friend, my biggest cheerleader, and my safe place.
She passed away this past May. And every day since, I’ve found myself reaching for the things she left behind. Not jewelry, or clothes, or designer bags. But her voice. Her laugh. Her smile.
Growing up, our bond was unshakable. The holidays were our time. We had this holiday tradition where we would head to Fifth Avenue. We’d shop until our arms ached, bags swinging from our wrists, before heading to Bergdorf Goodman for dinner. It was our little luxury, sitting across from each other, tired but happy. Sharing food. Swapping stories. Telling each other "I love you," like it was breathing.
Here’s the thing: the most important piece of her I carry with me today almost didn't happen.
Two or three years ago, I didn’t even have my voicemail set up. As a millennial, it just felt… unnecessary. My Aunt Tanya called one day and asked me why it wasn’t on. I shrugged it off.
"Tyler, turn it on," she said. "People want to leave you a message."
So I did. And this year, since my mother passed, one of my most treasured possessions has become my saved voicemails of her saying "happy birthday" and "I love you." I can hear her any time I need her.
I have our final text thread with her telling me she will love me forever. And I believe her.
We took photos together. We made videos. Silly little clips while she lays in her bed. Selfies and photos in the middle of crowded stores. Random snaps of her laughing at something I said. Those moments… they’re everything now. They’re proof that she was here, that we were here, that love like ours existed.
She taught me strength. She taught me resilience. She taught me how to keep going when the world feels like it’s stopped. And in the moments when I feel lost, her voice and our memories are the map that leads me back to myself. They remind me: everything will be okay.
That’s why I’m telling you to use every tool you have to make memories. Take the picture, even if your hair’s not done. Record the video, even if it’s only ten seconds. Save the voicemail. Keep the texts. Don’t wait for the perfect moment; make it perfect because you’re in it together.
The holidays are a time to rejoice in your own way. For some of us, that’s loud celebrations. For others, it’s quiet reflection. But for all of us, it should be about savoring the people we love while we can.
So the next time you’re with the ones who matter most, capture it, because one day those images, videos, and voicemails might be the lifeline that pulls you through your hardest days.
For me, they’re the reason I can still hear my mom say, "I love you." And that’s something I’ll hold onto forever.
This story is part of Holidays With Heart, a series in which Mashable and other CNET Group Perspectives contributors share personal stories involving technology.
