Why should you care about these songs if your mom is still here? Because they are emotional insurance. They give you a preview of the tenderness you have right now. Go hug your mom right now (if you can). If she’s gone, put on one of these songs. Have a little ugly cry.
It’s cheaper than therapy and tastes better than a sad sandwich. Plus, after the song ends, you’ll feel lighter. Like you just cleaned a dusty shelf in your heart. You’ll even laugh at yourself for crying over a pop song. And you know what? She would have laughed at you too. Or she would have brought you a tissue and a cookie. That’s the point.
So, make a playlist. It can be messy: one track from a musical, one from a country singer who sounds like a trucker, and one random 90s ballad. It’s your private concert for your private person. Put it on shuffle during a long drive. Let the weird cucumber at the grocery store make you smile. Because these songs don’t just say goodbye; they say, “Hello, remember this?” And that is a gift you can keep in your pocket forever.
