What’s up, Alamogordo?!
I have been overwhelmed haha. I meant to get this post out weeks ago and things just keep piling up.
It’s not really ‘timely’ anymore, Decades in Harmony wrapped up last month, but ‘timeliness’ is one of those journalistic rules I don’t respect. People’s stories are always timely and important.
I mentioned that Amy Bethard and her daughter Aurora sang a heartfelt rendition of “Wind Beneath My Wings,” but at the time I didn’t know just how meaningful it truly was.
“Some songs are just songs. Then there are those few that wrap themselves around your heart and never let go. For me, that song is Wind Beneath My Wings. It perfectly represents my relationship with my mom in so many ways, said Bethard.
The relationship was a bit strained at times due to external issues and internal coping strategies, but it was deep and full of love.
“My mother’s name was Gina. She was such a free spirit—someone who followed the wind wherever it carried her. Her journey was not an easy one. She struggled with alcoholism, and there were many hard days when that battle stood in the way of the life she wanted for me, her only child. I know it made it hard for her to be as present as she wished she could be. When I was four years old, my parents divorced. Because my mom didn’t have steady income or stable housing, my dad was granted full custody of me.
“Sure, it was a decision that made sense on paper, but it also made my relationship with my mom complicated. Still, even through all of that, she was my mom. She wasn’t perfect, but she always believed in me. She loved me unconditionally, and I loved her the same. In her own way, she was always encouraging me to reach higher and higher, even when she was fighting to keep her own footing.”
I am someone who has been through a lot, but come out on the other side appreciating that people are messy and imperfect. Seeing that humanity instead of the polished veneer many of us would rather show off 0pleases me. In this particular story, Gina obviously struggled, but she really overcame in a somewhat unexpected way.
“When I was 15, everything shifted—my mom got sober. That was the beginning of a new chapter for us. For the first time, I felt like I truly had my mom back in my life. We grew closer, we laughed more, and I got to see the truest version of her. It wasn’t perfect, but it was real. And I treasure that time more than I can ever say.”
Bethard continued, “ten years later, she faced another battle—the hardest of all. Cancer. It came hard and fast, diagnosed at Stage 4 from the start. Only six weeks later, she was gone. Losing her left a hole in my life that can never truly be filled. And yet, Wind Beneath My Wings reminds me that she’s still with me. She may no longer walk beside me, but she’s always there—lifting me when I’m down, carrying me forward, and reminding me of the unbreakable bond between us.
“Now that I am a mother myself, raising two daughters of my own, the song carries even deeper meaning. I want to be for them what my mom was for me—the wind beneath their wings. I want them to know, no matter what struggles life may bring, that they are loved unconditionally, believed in wholeheartedly, and lifted higher every step of the way. Aurora and Abrielle—this is my promise to you. I will be your wind. I will lift you when you stumble, encourage you when you doubt, and celebrate every moment you soar. Because of my mom, I know the power of that kind of love. And because of you both, I will keep her spirit alive in every step we take together.”
I’m not crying; you’re crying.
With the current circumstances, I might switch to twice a week again. The mission of helping build community is becoming more important by the day, so you’ll get something Wednesday and Saturday. Also, if you’re on Facebook, please stay tuned in to my page for ideas to support the community and local and state resources.
Salud!
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