Mother's Day

May 09, 2008 5 Comments A+ a-

With Mother's Day just around the corner, I've been thinking about my own Mom. She died in 1993 of colon cancer--after an almost five year fight against it. She was a most dignified woman, with a sense of elegance in the way she carried herself--and an awesome sense of humor!



This picture is of my Mom when she was 21 years old.





She was never much of a drinker--and one evening (when I was in my early twenties), she drank a glass or two of red wine. We were sitting at the kitchen table, when she folded her arms in front of her, and laid her head down--as if to take a nap. My teenaged brother Mike came into the kitchen and said, "Mom, what are you doing?" She barely lifted her head up and quietly replied "listening for buffalo!" and plopped her head back down!










Here she is with my Dad, shortly after she was diagnosed. (I think my Dad looks younger now than he was in this picture, more than 20 years ago...it's the hair, I'm sure!)




















This is my most favorite picture in the world. It is, obviously, not a particularly pretty photograph, but it is the one I would grab in case of a fire. (Thank you cousin Liz! She snapped this in 1990.) Mom was giving my brand new son, Chase a bath--check out the look on my baby's face!

The older I get, the more I miss my Mom! It never goes away! Every now and again, I find myself going for the phone to call her and share some tidbit--only to realize I can't!

Maybe she reads my blog??
Blondie

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Damien
AUTHOR
May 11, 2008 at 2:26 AM delete

Of course she reads your blog.

And, she follows every aspect of your life from where she now resides happily and without illness.

Take it from this little jew, I am certain G-d is taking very good care of her.

Have a lovely day.

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DUNCAN
AUTHOR
May 15, 2008 at 6:32 PM delete

Ok, you are home now and settled in. Time for an update. How is screw skeds and reserve treating you?

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Kirsten
AUTHOR
May 17, 2008 at 11:51 AM delete

Your mom lives within you through all the memories, good and bad. Just like you will always be alive in your kids! Read your blog? Heck, she helps your write it sometimes!

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CuzLilBit
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May 26, 2008 at 6:11 PM delete

How happy I am to catch up on the blog and see a picture of the most wonderful people. While on my trip to Rocky Mountain, I was filled with marriage anxiety (too much to go into here) and I think about Saint Celeste often (and yes, she is a saint!) Believe it or not, I had a dream about here that very night. She was comforting me. I so wish I had her courage and fortitude. She is one of my role models (as well as my friend, Gene.)

I am proud that you love that photo so much. Everything happens for a reason, and for some reason, I took this picture. God knew that you would need it down the line for comfort. What blessing that we have had in our life! Love to you, CuzLilBit.

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CuzLilBit
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May 26, 2008 at 6:32 PM delete

One other thing that I must tell you...The older I get, the closer I am to seeing Dad, Aunt Celeste, Uncle George and the whole family again. I used to feel so sad about it, but I am now comforted because as a kid I thought I would never see Dad. As an adult, I am moving closer to seeing them. It is as if there is only a curtain between us that blocks them out visually, but really, they are as closer than they ever were. Your Mom is here, Dad is here, Uncle George is (quietly) here. Sometime ago Mom, Becky, Diane and all the rest of the kids went to the cemetary to visit Dad and Uncle George's graves. Aunt Dot humorously related to me that after a minute at Uncle George's, Becky said it was time to leave because he never really liked long visits anyway! Auntie got a kick out of that because we all knew that was the way it was. For all the time they were in my life, I never really appreciated their virtues. Uncle George minded his own business and was quiet (I DESPERATELY need these virtues.) Aunt Celeste was the kind of wife I wish I could be...strong, decisive, beautiful, TRUSTING. Dad was actually a very giving person. He took people in. He was generous with money and time (with others). He had a strong faith in the church. They were in our lives for a REASON! Not just to "be our parents" but to teach us. Eduacate us. To help grow our virtues. I think about them all the time, not in the sense of who they were to a young "me", but who they were as human beings. They had great characteristics. The Communion of Saints...that's where these wonderful souls are now. And how blessed are we to have known them. Love, E.

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