Mother

I started thinking about anniversaries- some are good, some are bad, and some are sad. It is hard not to think about certain things on certain dates. December 20th, my anniversary, October 28, September 6, August 1, December 1, January 20, August 23, all important and happy dates to me. Today is an anniversary date, as well. My mother passed from this life 9 years ago today. Mother was 86, and by years that is a long life, but it did not seem like it was time for her to go. My heart felt as if though she had some more living to do, but I guess that is as it is with all who pass on. Of all my great fortunes in life, having a good mother has to rank way close to the top. Mother was somewhat of a unique person. She was private, yet very public with her love for her family. She was so proud of every family member. In her “nursing home” journal, which was like a Blog before there were Blogs, she wrote about family. I am going to share some of her entries just as she wrote them-
“Charles, you walked at 1 yr, + 1 mo. We lived in four large rooms in a house in Sayreton. You were born at Carraway Hospital, November, 1946. You (before you turned loose to walk by yourself) you went round and round catching to furniture, finally you turned loose, took off, and never fell. You were a big smart boy. You and Patsy had so much fun at night, playing on the bed, wrestling, and giggling.”
“Lisa and Norman are like a light to me.”
“David is the wind beneath Susan’s wings. She could not have done for me all she has done, without him.”
“Thank you, Patsy, for all your help.”
“Daniel is so good looking, and his skin is beautiful. I love Daniel so good. As he left he told me that he loved me. That was so sweet, and precious to me.”
“I love Leslie and Laura.”
“As Lisa and Norman were leaving Thanksgiving Day, after doing so much for me, Norman put both arms around me with such feeling. I’ll never forget as long as I live, the love I have been shown. I love, Norman.”
“Today Kim came to see me, I was so happy to see her I bawled (cried). Kim looked so good. Love becomes her, she is so very pretty.”
“Josh will be back from vacation tomorrow. I miss him talking with me and his visits.”
As you can see, family meant so much to mother. She loved us all, and one of the last requests that she made was to “keep being a family”. I think she would be proud of us- while we might not see each other that often, we all know that we are there for each other. We are in harmony, and that means so much. I think if any of us had a need, the others would rally to their cause. So, on this anniversary, I want to tell all of you how much I love you, because Mother would want me to do that, and not just because she would want me to,but because I mean it.