In memory. Happy Mother's Day Mom.

My Mom was something else. She would say the funniest things. Sometimes the most embarrassing things to us kids. I remember her laughing so hard she would cry and not be able to stop. I think fondly of her. Everyone loved her, truly. She was a magnet and everyone loved to be around her. A small Irish woman with a big big heart. I saw her chase down my 6 ft brother once and catch him! Here are some writings of one of my sisters about our Mom. Happy Mother's Day!


Thank You Dr Feurst

Mom had been to the doctor many times during the end of her time here but I remember one trip years earlier when I went with her to see her favorite doctor, Dr Feurst. Now Mom thought he was the cutest thing and loved going to see him. I was inclined to agree with her as I had a secret crush on him. I was pretty young at the time and as a lot of young people are self centered, I was no different. I remember being ashamed of the way she was. She was loud and brash and in my eyes, she said the most humiliating things. Oh, the receptionist laughed when Mom made an inappropriate comment. (I thought it was out of politeness).

We were called back into the room to wait for the doctor and I remember feeling a little antsy. Wishing that I wasn't there. Wishing that he wouldn't associate me with this hillbilly of a women. When the doctor walked into to the room, he greeted her as if they were old friends. I thought he also was just being polite and professional. And there went Mom. Telling him how she was feeling, interjecting bits of humor about her day and her life. I watched his face to see the signs of disinterest, of impatience at wasting his time. I saw none of that. Instead, I saw his face fill with laughter at what she was saying. He was asking questions and was interested in her responses. I began to see Mom in a whole new light. I felt ashamed at feeling ashamed of her. Mom grew 10 feet in my eyes that day. When we were leaving, he told her that she was his favorite patient and the way he said it, you knew he meant it. I never felt ashamed of Mom after that-it was like a veil was lifted. I had always loved her and thought she was funny but I never knew that other people saw her that way too. Thank-you Dr Feurst for letting me accept my Mom for who she was. A funny, warm and totally whacky women who was always there for you. She was true to herself and to others. I wish I was more like her. I love you Mom.

I Remember Ma

Sitting on the porch drinking a cup of black coffee with a cigarette in her hand.

Lying in bed with us gently rocking the mattress while singing every song she knew in her soft, gravely voice until we went to sleep.

Canning so many jars of tomatoes and as many jars of jelly as the berries that we picked.

Standing at the kitchen counter until everyone was done eating a meal so she could sit down to eat.

Baking home made bread, pies, biscuits, cakes and cookies all from scratch.

Strumming her guitar like no one else I knew. I couldn't do it with such ease and finesse no matter how hard I tried.

Laughing.

Never picking a favorite child even when I kept pressing her to tell me..she'd always say "I love you all the same". And best of all, you never felt she had a favorite.

Digging out the back cellar bucket by bucket, shoveling coal into the furnace and allowing me to bank it, cutting the grass

Saying "Keep your legs closed", that was the only conversation we ever had about sex.

Decorating the Christmas tree with bubble lights and ice cycles and assorted ornaments, some of which we made. We always had a real tree.

Getting mad. Her eyes would light up and she get this tone in her voice and you knew you'd better run.

Out running me when I was ornery and I playfully told her she'd never catch me.

Whipping me once, I had to pull a switch off of the tree. I wonder what I did because she never beat us.

Telling us to be home before the street lights came on.

Telling us that if we came in, we had to stay in.

Always being there just to sit and shoot the bull with about nothing in particular.