Mom would have been 83 today March 6, 2009. i cannot imagine her as that old because she died at age 68 and is frozen in time. Really this is just fine with me now, forever younger. I have a mother in law who is 93 and I think I cannot imagine my mother at age 93 either! The picture above is from around 1944 or so. I believe our mother graduated high school at age 17, a year earlier than she was supposed to, in 1943. We never know for sure how much time we have on this earth and often what to do with that time. But when I was underemployed for 6-7 years in the 80's, I now look back at that time, an adult living at home, and no longer regret the fact that I saw and talked my mother almost every day. At the time I did not know, that when I moved out again in January of 1988, she would be gone in about 7 years. It is so strange how things work out. She got to see me get married, but never saw or knew about her first grandchild, or second one of course. But in retrospect, to have spent that time with our mother, not knowing how much time she had, was a blessing. What a terrific life she and dad had given us. I always remember the vacations in the mountains especially, and all the times at the Old 27 House (Grandma Allen's) with all the relatives. These are the things about mothers and families you always must remember if you are fortunate enough to have parents who made those memories as a foundation for who you are, and how to live your life, and what you would change. Thank you Mom (and Dad). I would not change a thing, and could not anyway.
by mr t
8 comments:
it's a good day when we get to celebrate the births of one of the most important people in our lives.my aunt loree is one of those folks.she always had a smile for the nieces and nephews,and we rarely saw her being cross.and if she was cross,it was at her boys,not us...hahahahahah.seriously,even though we talk about all the fun we had as kids at old 27,without the grownups it just wouldn't have been the same.she was one special lady,one of the four special ladies who helped shape and form our lives.
Thanks Steve, for posting and commenting. all the stories I can remember, they used to tell each other from the past, and their present, have been told to my children. It is hard to relate the feeling of the moment in some of these stories to 2nd and 3rd generation descendants, but we hope they will tell those stories to their children and so on.
Yes, thanks for posting. What a beautiful lady my mom was, physically and spiritually. I miss her dearly and think about her everyday. She gave us real unconditional love. She was supportive of us whatever we did. When I think back AT ALL OF THE THINGS both mom & dad did for us, big and small things i know how lucky I was. She was the best mother a person could possibly want. I can't even list all of the things she did for me, but i frequently tell Tammy alot of the things both mom and dad did for us. And of course Tammy already knew alot about how great mom and dad were because she feels blessed to have known both of them since 1977. She worked hard so we could have alot of things. Trying to do it all....and she did an damn good amazing job at it too. Thanks mom!!
Yes, a good mother's job is always an incredible job. And I'm sure, Steve, that mom already knew that her sister Joann, handled the cross department with you guys! hahahaha. Even when I remember mom being cross with us, it makes me laugh! I remember once she chased us around the Indiana house with the belt, just to scare us into being good - you know how two boys could get, too rowdy at Christmas break, jumping on the furniture and yelling, hahaha. And I have vague memories of her telling how grandma did not spare the rod either! heheheh, ouch! heheheh...but I also remember Dan with the ketchup on his shirt and neck, laying on the floor. I went and got her, saying Dan had been hurt or something. I really think she went along with it and knew all the time something was up. It was probably April Fool's Day, about 1970. She jumped pretty good when Dan got up off the floor though. I remember when we all got the flu, Dad was calling out her name in the middle of the night, maybe a bad dream with a fever. And Dan wnadering, sleep walking with a fever. We were worried he would fall down the basement stairs. some one had left our walky takies on it was making a noice during the same incident. i found it and turned it off. By then everyone was up, and Dan decided to start boxing dad when dad spoke to him, hahahha. Then we got him awake and he didn't remember a thing. Mom took him to bed. I remember mom's laughter at all the pinnacile parties right along with all the other adults' specific laughter. (You know all those I'm talking about Dan). Or the time I was in kindergarten and made up a story about being kidnapped with a friend by a bad guy who threatened us with a belt. She actually was taking phone off the wall to call the other kid's parents to let them know I had escaped and that their son was still out there somewhere. and to call the police. that's when i stopped her and told her the truth. She called my bluff and I got caught lying. You can't put one over on moms.
I'm sorta glad neither mom or dad are not here now to see all the troubles we've been through lately, I would not want to stress them out with that kind of worry at age 83 and 88! But I wish mom could have seen and got to know her grandchildren -that's what hurts the most about her being gone. She deserved to have such fine grandchildren and never got the chance, she got cheated out of it. I'll never know why. The pieces of the life puzzle never seem to fit. Someone upstairs decided her job was done, and that totally changed my life for the different, not the better or worse...I imagine the same goes for Dan.
3 things that stick out in my mind. One is, when i was about in the early elementary school level, 1st & 2nd grade, which was of course mom's specialty. She made the girl next door and I get through her flashcards. Math! Then when we would get through them (mom made a game out of it) we could go out and play. Later on, Tammy used to help mom with the carnivals at the school (Post Oak)every year. Mom really liked that. But also when she saw I was worried and in transition with not really knowing what direction to go with myself at a particular point in my life, I never said anything, she just knew, could read me I guess, and she came in and hugged me and told me to stop worrying about it and just follow my heart. That meant alot. Also the thing that really stands out is her bravery and faith when she was ill, just before she passed. She told me she was not afraid, and she meant it. She really had strong faith about that and I've always been extremely impressed with her strong will and faith. well enough about that stuff, mom had a terrific sense of humor too. Once she started laughing she couldn't stop. And I remember the 3 sisters gabbing away whenever they were together, there was a synergy there that you couldn't resist listening. And you could always tell if you came in and if she was on the phone with aunt Joann or aunt Theo. Hey Tom, remember coming in the back door and having to duck under the telephone cord becuse mom would be sitting at the table with the cord stretched across? Hahaha.
Oh, and Tom, I hate to break the news to you Lo these many years later, but, after your little kidnapping story, mom and dad had actually discussed the kidnapping idea as a disiplinary alternative to other forms of punishment!
I knew that! We discussed kidnapping you! hahahaha. i remember when you were locked out of indiana Street house, banged on the side door hard and broke the window glass and cut your arm. You had scars on your arm from that for quite a few years. Jerry Fell's mom (Janet Fell) across the street - I was really pissed when she said nasty things to me about my brother (as in "brat," when her kids were the brats). If I had been bigger I would have belted her one. (After all, only I get to say nasty things about my brother.......that's my job, not hers, hahahaha). But when I told Mom she was pissed at Mrs. Fell too, but tried to restrain herself. mom, put the boxing gloves away, Mom! Stop! Mom! Put that rake down! why is she hissing? There has got to be an entire movie in that old Indiana neighborhood. I suppose they sort of already did it with that TV show, The Wonder Years. but that was more 1966 on. Well , the movie keeps running in my mind for sure.
Nothing like two old Irish Lads drunk at the pub, talking about their "Sainted Mother," eh?
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