John, such a fantastic article and you are so fortunate to have such an amazing wife and beautiful daughters!
My mom passed away several years ago. She was amazing and taught me how to treat people. She taught first grade forever in a small Eastern Oregon school and when she retired had taught several 3 generations of families in the valley. God bless her!
David...I have to ask...where in Eastern Oregon? My parents were both from Eastern Oregon and were teachers there before moving to the Willamette Valley. Like my late father, I'm always looking for connections. :-)
I graduated from Imbler in 1965. I competed in HS football and basketball against our cross valley rivals, the Cove Leopards in 1962-65. The Cove swimming pool was great, much better than LaGrandes! I also competed against the Badgers of North Powder (now Powder Valley).
I love Eastern Oregon, the Grande Ronde Valley, so many special memories!
My mom passed away from dementia in 2018. Instead of mourning, I praised that day, for she had gone to heaven to be with my dad. I grew up in the 60s, so my mom was the quintessential housewife/homemaker. She grew up in N. California, near Santa Rosa. She won a singing contest hosted by a San Francisco radio station, at age 11. She had the voice to become a professional opera singer. When she sang at church, she would make women cry. I know as a kid, I took advantage of the fact that she was always there to help me. Only in my adult life did I truly appreciate all she did and how she possessed such a positive and uplifting personality. She made friends with anyone. I miss her dearly!!
God bless you, mom, for all that you did to shape me into the adult I am today!!! I love you!!
My mother passed away in 2012 from ovarian cancer. She never quit. In life or career. It gave me the ability to live life while you have it. I’m grateful to her to go ahead and do things now, and not wait… as you may not have tomorrow. Travel, spend time with your family and friends, have experiences, speak your mind, pursue your dreams. Do those things. My mother encouraged that, and she still would today.
The circle of life. Bitter sweet. I am at the stage of life when I am beginning to repay decades of my mom's love and support. My mom turns 84 this week. Last week I spent a day in the emergency room with her. We are beginning to talk about needing to stop driving and moving in to a place for better care. All the hard things...
When my teenage kids were little we read a book to them called "Love you forever". At the end of the book there is a passage I didn't fully understand until now:
My mom was a survivor of a long-time (and unknown to her kids) abusive relationship. Yet she was the nicest person I've ever known. A lovable and loving person. RIP Ma.
Thanks for this column, John. I like your coverage of the business of college sports, but the personal-interest stories are the reason I subscribe. Stories like this one, which made me tear up. My kids are grown and gone, and I'm divorced, but I still remember what they were like at 9 years old. God, I miss those days.
I lost my own Mom two years ago, just a few weeks before Mother's Day. She was 77. Judy Hirning was a fantastic mom to me and my three siblings, but she was also a mother figure to the dozens and dozens of kids that she cared for in the home daycare business that she ran for nearly 30 years. She treated every single one of those kids just like they were her biological kids--she loved them all. And I never minded sharing my mom with those children; she had more than enough love for all of them. I guess you could say she was the Sun for us.
If you still have your mom around, give her a big hug today (or a phone call, if you live far away). If you know a mother, send them a "Happy Mother's Day" text. If you are fortunate enough to be a father, do something nice for the mother of your kids, and let her know how much you appreciate her. And if you are a mom, well--this is your day. Happy Mother's Day! Know that we all appreciate all the things you do for your kids.
My mother Betty passed two years ago on the day after Mother’s Day at 92. Her and my father raised 6 children and mom was always there at home to do whatever we needed to be successful. She tucked me in at night making sure I said my prayers and be thankful until I turned 10. I never remember her complaining about being left at home with all 6 of us when dad went on sales trips. I miss my mom immensely but have so many great memories in my 60 years. Thanks mom for the memories!
My mom was the best, gone too soon, 23 years ago at the age of 52. She was a teacher for 30 years, a true optimist, a dreamer, and most of all a sports fan. A ravenous supporter of Penn State Football, a die hard New York Yankee fan who would go to bed at night listening to the radio broadcast out of the NYC on her walkman, and lover of Syracuse basketball. She was one of a kind, who would empower her students, and lift the spirits of all of us around her.
On her headstone the front reads, "Always a teacher, and in all ways a teacher", the back of the stone has the Penn State logo (of course) and the phrase "Be sure to eat at the Tavern, thanks for stopping by." My dad has said when his time comes and he is laid to rest by her, he wants the stone to read nothing more than "Always her student." As everyone who knew her, remains to be.
Mom is the name of God on the lips and in the hearts of all children, call your mom today, tell her that you love her, and appreciate all that she is.
It dawned on me this morning that this is the first Mothers Day without my Mom. She passed away on Nov 3 of 2023. It just so happens that Nov 3, 2023 was also the day my daughter was married. We had asked the hospice folks to not inform us of Mom's passing until the next day should it occur on that particular day (she had been unresponsive for 4 days prior). Many people have expressed sadness at the confluence of the dates, but we have chosen to look at it that Mom was able to see the wedding from Heaven, the only way she would have been able to attend.
My Mom passed in Nov. 2024. She was 95. She was born during the depression in West Texas and married my dad who was a sports writer in Sweetwater, Texas, Wichita Falls, TX, Lima Ohio and retiring from the Long Beach Press Telegram in Calif. In all those years she endured the late Friday night while Dad covered high school sports. She participated in watching the college and NFL games on the weekend. Dad sometimes had 2 TV.s going. I lived in Oregon and during their visits on Thanksgiving I introduced them to the Ducks. They attended the Civil War many times. After she could no longer travel we discussed the football and basket ball game she watched religiously on TV The last time I talked to her when before she passed. I told her I loved her and she also responded. "GO Ducks"! She had asked that I blow her Duck Lips at her Memorial Service. I did. Miss ya Mom and GO Ducks. Sport was part of the glue that made us a family!
Very nice column, John. I am touched by the loving attention you paid to your daughter. I have had many clients who played sports as kids and told me that neither parent came to their games. It made them feel they were not important. You are lucky you had such a loving Mom and your daughters are lucky to have you.
I take my mom to the beach in Mexico yearly. Two of three ex girlfriends have made those trips with us over the years. This year as I enter a new chapter it will just be Mom and I.
My joke is that my girlfriends mostly date me to hang out with my mom. She is that great.
My mom is funny and witty and strong. It was just her and I after dad passed when I was 12. Now more than 30 years later she is still the funniest and there for me every time and I like to think vice-versa.
Some might think it odd to go sit at the beach with your ma. They ask, “what do you guys do?”.
We meet for breakfast and dinner and sit at the beach all day watching the world go by and laughing. She is my best friend.
My Mom had a very rough childhood with her earliest years during WWII and her biological Mother abandoning the family when she was Four. Instead of being a poor Mom because of a lack of an example, she dedicated herself to being the best Mom possible. She always put my brothers and I first and was there for everything . She taught us to always make our bed as well and was at everything we did. She was the definition of selfless, without telling everyone about it.
Great article! My mom was born in 1914, raised 4 sometimes mischievous kids in eastern Oregon, and was ahead of her time. We didn’t have to eat everything on our plates, and curfew was when the street light went on. She instilled respect for others, courage and independence in three daughters and one son. We all turned out pretty darn good. We always knew she was proud of us. She past away over 30 years ago and I miss her everyday.
My mother was the Rock of our family! Whatever was needed, she was there! She raised 3 boys, 4 when you counted our dad. 15 years ago she passed away on her April birthday and I miss her laugh and listening. Thanks JC for another inspirational article!
My mom cares about people in a deep way. Her compassion for others inspires me and has ingrained a deep sense of empathy and to respect others from all different walks of life. I’m very thankful for her love and all I’ve learned from her over the years.
John, such a fantastic article and you are so fortunate to have such an amazing wife and beautiful daughters!
My mom passed away several years ago. She was amazing and taught me how to treat people. She taught first grade forever in a small Eastern Oregon school and when she retired had taught several 3 generations of families in the valley. God bless her!
Thank you for sharing this. Teachers… 💜
David...I have to ask...where in Eastern Oregon? My parents were both from Eastern Oregon and were teachers there before moving to the Willamette Valley. Like my late father, I'm always looking for connections. :-)
Donna Mason
Donna, I grew up in Imbler a small town in Eastern Oregon 12 miles from LaGrande.
Ha- I have family in Cove and North Powder!
I graduated from Imbler in 1965. I competed in HS football and basketball against our cross valley rivals, the Cove Leopards in 1962-65. The Cove swimming pool was great, much better than LaGrandes! I also competed against the Badgers of North Powder (now Powder Valley).
I love Eastern Oregon, the Grande Ronde Valley, so many special memories!
Agreed! Spent many summers in north powder and Middleton Idaho with family. Great memories from that region!
My mom passed away from dementia in 2018. Instead of mourning, I praised that day, for she had gone to heaven to be with my dad. I grew up in the 60s, so my mom was the quintessential housewife/homemaker. She grew up in N. California, near Santa Rosa. She won a singing contest hosted by a San Francisco radio station, at age 11. She had the voice to become a professional opera singer. When she sang at church, she would make women cry. I know as a kid, I took advantage of the fact that she was always there to help me. Only in my adult life did I truly appreciate all she did and how she possessed such a positive and uplifting personality. She made friends with anyone. I miss her dearly!!
God bless you, mom, for all that you did to shape me into the adult I am today!!! I love you!!
Oh man… I love this Mark. Thank you for posting here.
Cool as hell
My mother passed away in 2012 from ovarian cancer. She never quit. In life or career. It gave me the ability to live life while you have it. I’m grateful to her to go ahead and do things now, and not wait… as you may not have tomorrow. Travel, spend time with your family and friends, have experiences, speak your mind, pursue your dreams. Do those things. My mother encouraged that, and she still would today.
That resilience is such a gift, thank you for posting
The circle of life. Bitter sweet. I am at the stage of life when I am beginning to repay decades of my mom's love and support. My mom turns 84 this week. Last week I spent a day in the emergency room with her. We are beginning to talk about needing to stop driving and moving in to a place for better care. All the hard things...
When my teenage kids were little we read a book to them called "Love you forever". At the end of the book there is a passage I didn't fully understand until now:
"The son went to his mother
He picked her up and rocked her
Back and forth, back and forth,
Back and forth,
And he sang this song:
I'll love you forever,
I'll like you for always,
As long as I'm lving,
My mommy you'll be "
I love it. I wish I wrote music
My mom was a survivor of a long-time (and unknown to her kids) abusive relationship. Yet she was the nicest person I've ever known. A lovable and loving person. RIP Ma.
That strength… and your awareness of it… amazing. Thanks Mike. Appreciate that you shared this.
Thanks for this column, John. I like your coverage of the business of college sports, but the personal-interest stories are the reason I subscribe. Stories like this one, which made me tear up. My kids are grown and gone, and I'm divorced, but I still remember what they were like at 9 years old. God, I miss those days.
I lost my own Mom two years ago, just a few weeks before Mother's Day. She was 77. Judy Hirning was a fantastic mom to me and my three siblings, but she was also a mother figure to the dozens and dozens of kids that she cared for in the home daycare business that she ran for nearly 30 years. She treated every single one of those kids just like they were her biological kids--she loved them all. And I never minded sharing my mom with those children; she had more than enough love for all of them. I guess you could say she was the Sun for us.
If you still have your mom around, give her a big hug today (or a phone call, if you live far away). If you know a mother, send them a "Happy Mother's Day" text. If you are fortunate enough to be a father, do something nice for the mother of your kids, and let her know how much you appreciate her. And if you are a mom, well--this is your day. Happy Mother's Day! Know that we all appreciate all the things you do for your kids.
Thank you David.
Yes! This is inspiring.
My mother Betty passed two years ago on the day after Mother’s Day at 92. Her and my father raised 6 children and mom was always there at home to do whatever we needed to be successful. She tucked me in at night making sure I said my prayers and be thankful until I turned 10. I never remember her complaining about being left at home with all 6 of us when dad went on sales trips. I miss my mom immensely but have so many great memories in my 60 years. Thanks mom for the memories!
Your mom’s positive outlook… amazing. Thank you.
My mom was the best, gone too soon, 23 years ago at the age of 52. She was a teacher for 30 years, a true optimist, a dreamer, and most of all a sports fan. A ravenous supporter of Penn State Football, a die hard New York Yankee fan who would go to bed at night listening to the radio broadcast out of the NYC on her walkman, and lover of Syracuse basketball. She was one of a kind, who would empower her students, and lift the spirits of all of us around her.
On her headstone the front reads, "Always a teacher, and in all ways a teacher", the back of the stone has the Penn State logo (of course) and the phrase "Be sure to eat at the Tavern, thanks for stopping by." My dad has said when his time comes and he is laid to rest by her, he wants the stone to read nothing more than "Always her student." As everyone who knew her, remains to be.
Mom is the name of God on the lips and in the hearts of all children, call your mom today, tell her that you love her, and appreciate all that she is.
Teachers 💜💜💜
Poignant and beautiful friend
It dawned on me this morning that this is the first Mothers Day without my Mom. She passed away on Nov 3 of 2023. It just so happens that Nov 3, 2023 was also the day my daughter was married. We had asked the hospice folks to not inform us of Mom's passing until the next day should it occur on that particular day (she had been unresponsive for 4 days prior). Many people have expressed sadness at the confluence of the dates, but we have chosen to look at it that Mom was able to see the wedding from Heaven, the only way she would have been able to attend.
Thank you for sharing your memories about your mom.
My Mom passed in Nov. 2024. She was 95. She was born during the depression in West Texas and married my dad who was a sports writer in Sweetwater, Texas, Wichita Falls, TX, Lima Ohio and retiring from the Long Beach Press Telegram in Calif. In all those years she endured the late Friday night while Dad covered high school sports. She participated in watching the college and NFL games on the weekend. Dad sometimes had 2 TV.s going. I lived in Oregon and during their visits on Thanksgiving I introduced them to the Ducks. They attended the Civil War many times. After she could no longer travel we discussed the football and basket ball game she watched religiously on TV The last time I talked to her when before she passed. I told her I loved her and she also responded. "GO Ducks"! She had asked that I blow her Duck Lips at her Memorial Service. I did. Miss ya Mom and GO Ducks. Sport was part of the glue that made us a family!
Love that you bonded over sports.
Very nice column, John. I am touched by the loving attention you paid to your daughter. I have had many clients who played sports as kids and told me that neither parent came to their games. It made them feel they were not important. You are lucky you had such a loving Mom and your daughters are lucky to have you.
Anna is particularly big about showing up… I work and travel a lot. The scramble to the school was worth it.
John,
I take my mom to the beach in Mexico yearly. Two of three ex girlfriends have made those trips with us over the years. This year as I enter a new chapter it will just be Mom and I.
My joke is that my girlfriends mostly date me to hang out with my mom. She is that great.
My mom is funny and witty and strong. It was just her and I after dad passed when I was 12. Now more than 30 years later she is still the funniest and there for me every time and I like to think vice-versa.
Some might think it odd to go sit at the beach with your ma. They ask, “what do you guys do?”.
We meet for breakfast and dinner and sit at the beach all day watching the world go by and laughing. She is my best friend.
Here is to the moms.
My Mom had a very rough childhood with her earliest years during WWII and her biological Mother abandoning the family when she was Four. Instead of being a poor Mom because of a lack of an example, she dedicated herself to being the best Mom possible. She always put my brothers and I first and was there for everything . She taught us to always make our bed as well and was at everything we did. She was the definition of selfless, without telling everyone about it.
Great article! My mom was born in 1914, raised 4 sometimes mischievous kids in eastern Oregon, and was ahead of her time. We didn’t have to eat everything on our plates, and curfew was when the street light went on. She instilled respect for others, courage and independence in three daughters and one son. We all turned out pretty darn good. We always knew she was proud of us. She past away over 30 years ago and I miss her everyday.
My mother was the Rock of our family! Whatever was needed, she was there! She raised 3 boys, 4 when you counted our dad. 15 years ago she passed away on her April birthday and I miss her laugh and listening. Thanks JC for another inspirational article!
She’s always with you. Thank you for sharing that.
My mom cares about people in a deep way. Her compassion for others inspires me and has ingrained a deep sense of empathy and to respect others from all different walks of life. I’m very thankful for her love and all I’ve learned from her over the years.
That empathy is a gift. Thanks for sharing.