If you don’t have a pet, get one. No birds or reptiles, of course. The usual small or smallish four-legged furry kind. A nice little kitten or two. Or a puppy. Preferably a golden retriever.
Right now your mom is all memories and floating spirit. But once you bring the pet home, she’ll begin to re-manifest.
How to handle her absence longterm? Very simple: Write an e-book about her journey. She will know you’re doing this, meditating as she is upon her heavenly, mystical cloud mattress, and this effort will warm her heart. And yours.
Maybe a short book. Maybe a 20-page article at first, chapter by chapter but not necessarily in the usual biographical sequence. Include as many photos, videos, audio recordings as you can get your hands on. Make it as long or as short as you deem fit, but chisel it down to the nub. Keep the sentiment but remove all the hot air.
Keep working on it until a little whisper tells you “okay, you’ve done it, or mostly at least…you’ve captured the best stuff and perhaps even the essence.” Number the pages and print them out on some kind of upscale, above-average paper stock. Or make it into a perfect-bound hardcover book. Whatever seems right.
Writing it all out, trust me, will make the grief dissipate and weaken and gradually float into the ether. Plus you’ll always have the book to have and to hold.