My mum was put in an orphanage by HER mum after WWII (my grandma was a single mother who struggled raising a child who arrived late in her life). Mum ran away from the orphanage after grade nine, found her dad, and moved in with him. She soon met MY dad, they married, and tried to start a family. After several failed pregnancies, they decided to adopt, and that’s how they ended up with me. I was so awesome (ha), they adopted a girl 18 months later. They then became foster parents to maybe a hundred long- and short-term foster kids over their lives. Like me, mum was imperfect, but she did the best she could and she was so proud of me (as if I was her own). She never lived to see me finish my PhD or see our second daughter in this world, but I hope for a time when I can tell her (again) how grateful I was for her love.❤️💔
My Mom, RIP. One of the first women to earn a Master's Degree from Ohio State. The degree was in Social Work, and she joined a medical service in WWII and was assigned to a home for the then-referred-to, retarded women.
She found out that five of her wards were scheduled for a lobotomy. She stole a pickup truck, put the women in the back, and drove over the state line to Arizona, where lobotomies were not allowed. She always looked out for the underdogs in life.
WWII - Her 1st husband was a pilot shot down and killed on a daylight bombing raid over Germany. More members of the Air Force were shot down and killed over France and Germany than Marines were KIA in the Pacific.
Her eldest brother, a tank commander under Patton, after surviving Africa and Italy, was killed at the Battle of the Bulge. Two weeks later, her Dad died of a heart attack.
My Dad made it back from the South Pacific, they met, fell in love, and married. She ended up in a household with a husband and three boys, a tough tour of duty.
My Mom and Dad's generation? Tough as nails but not without love in their hearts.
Thank you, JC, for the opportunity to remember Mama.
My Mom’s life was defined by her devout Catholicism. I have saved all her homemade pro-life signs, some of which she displayed in her home window to the (then) horror of her kids. Now I see it differently. My Mom had a heart for children, having 5 of her own. She ran a day care growing up and charged to each, according to their means. This is where I first encountered Down’s Syndrome babies. Later, my Mom made a point of playing chauffeur to adult Down’s friends taking them to and from Mass. I choke up thinking about my Mom. I miss her so much, she gave us kids so much.
My dad was one of the founders of Little League Baseball in our home town but mom was just as important in it's success. Every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday she would drag the Sno Cone machine, the popcorn machine (which was actually just a warming oven with glass sides, and huge bags of popcorn down from our attic and load them in our '56 Rambler station wagon. My two brothers and I would do the heavy lifting while mom rounded up the extension cords and other paraphernaila that would allow her to set up the "concession stand" that funded the league. Most nights the other moms who had signed up to work didn't show so mom would do double duty out of the back of that Rambler as waitress and cashier. Thank you John for making me remember.
My mom was born seriously poor in Dubuque, Iowa in 1937. She joined the Navy to get out of the Midwest, became an OB-Gyn nurse, then got married and raised 4 kids, managing and later owning a Sears catalog store. Once we were grown she tackled her dream, working as a Financial Advisor while obtaining a CPA designation. But for her, most importantly she took active part in the lives of her 9 grandchildren and traveling the world. Sadly We lost her to Alzheimer’s in 2019 before she had a chance to get to know most of her now 12 great-grandkids but we are all proud of how she lived her life with courage and ambition. Thanks for letting me share.
OK John thanks for the opportunity to honor our mothers. Mine has passed by several years now, but I can tell you some things about her. She was effectively a single Mom (dad was an alcoholic) who raised six kids in rapid succession of age (she had 9 kids in 9 years, three died at childbirth- we were Catholic of course!).
She taught me that women can do ANYTHING, a lesson that I carry with me today. She played every sport with us, attended all our games, worked three jobs at times. I was a pitcher and she was my first catcher. She mounted the basketball hoop to the garage, taught us all how to swim by throwing us off the pier at the lake and saying get back to shore:)
She went back to college after having all the kids (like your Mom). We graduated the same year together. She went into teaching what was then called "special Ed" and went on to get her MS in Education. In the end, the school sytem beat her down and she ended her "working life" as a Walmart greeter. She loved to talk to anyone that would listen. She grew up in a time of great prejudice in the world and in my small New England town, but she was accepting of all (good) people.
At her funeral, as the oldest child I gave the Eulogy. What I said was that as young adults we all dread becoming our parents, but I am happy and grateful I became like Mom.
If you ever want to "crack" any of my online accounts, the passwords are all some combination of her name, birthday, and special things. That's how I remember her every day. Good luck on that!
I came of age in Valsetz, Oregon. (Google it) We lost our town and Home in 1984. As kids, we hopped logs in the mill pond, caught rides down the Siletz river to swim, played softball, rode Honda 90’s, and bicycled all over town. But get in trouble? Not a chance. Every Mom in town had an eye out and phone in hand if any of us got out of line, bullied or looked at an unlocked car door (they were ALL unlocked, just like the front door of every house in town actually!) Now, those kids are grown and sadly, we have attended too many services for our former Valsetz citizens. The last one, two weeks ago for a town matriarch, there we were reminded that we are losing all of our Town Moms. Indeed, there are but a handful left, including mine. I am thankful she agreed to move us to the end of 17 miles of gravel road to heaven on earth, Valsetz, and became one of the watchful eyes of the Town Moms.
My Mom taught me, against all odds, that I was worthwhile in whatever I did as long as I treated people well. She assured me (many times) that my best effort was more than good enough, and that being first or "best" is not necessarily what it's cracked up to be. Believe it or not, I am positive that her voice and advice made me better than I would have been if I was driven or pushed. It's been important to me to pass this on to our sons, and they are doing the same with our grandkids. Happy Mothers Day Mom--love you very much! And thanks to you as well, John!
On this day I celebrate my grandmother. My mom had a very hard life and many demons. Some of her own making and some out of the unfairness of life. She left this world 40 years ago and I have to believe she is finally at peace. But my grandmother stepped in and raised me throughout my childhood long before my mom passed, knowing I needed a stable home. She taught me 2 things many take for granted. 1) I had a home I could feel safe in, and 2) I was loved. What more could any kid ask for? But besides that, I remember countless hours at the kitchen table playing Yatzee or Aggravation. She always had time for me. I remember getting up for school and her pancakes. As a little guy I'd always try to eat more pancakes than my grandpa. Grandma always made mine extra small so I could "eat more" than grandpa and "win". My mom passed right after I joined the Air Force and was stationed in Guam. It was sudden, 1 car accident. When I got home to their house the first words out of grandma's mouth were, "you know you always have a home, this has always been your home and always will be." I could go on and on about how loyal, feisty and protective that little 4'11", 95 lb German lady was and what she taught me, but most of all I remember she taught me somebody thought I was worth loving. Not a day goes by I don't miss her!!
My mom taught me to be kind, polite (please and thank you to all), fiercely loyal to those you love, a protector, a feminist, grateful and generous. She contributed to her community in St John’s as a coach, little league volunteer and mom chauffeur to many kids needing rides to and from practice. She organized union workers at Kaiser and once testified in front of the Supreme Court regarding a case on workers rights.
My love of sports comes primarily from my mom. She loved the Blazers, Atlanta Braves (thanks to Ted Turner), Seahawks and all Oregon Ducks sports, but especially football. I was the first in my family to graduate college and that made her a forever Duck fan.
She passed late last March after a long hospital stay. Last Mothers’ Day was a blur. This feels like the first without her. If she was here, I’d tell her once again that I love her and thank you. If I could take her on a trip, it would be to Scotland, where both her parents immigrated from through Ellis Island in the 1910’s.
John- this enterprise of yours is amazing. I lost my mom to breast cancer when I was 5. I have been chasing her for the last 49 years. I just try my best to honor my wife of our two kids. We live in Blackhawk CA. Yes, I was a neighbor to Larry Scott. But today is a special day marked with a little sadness as I wish I had known my mother growing up.
My mom was the youngest of 8 born on a country farm, one day she joined her father and came to town along 13 miles of dirt and gravel to buy a Mother's Day gift for her mom. Her father had traded with my dad over the years supporting his small business. My dad always glowed when asked of their first chance meeting, he was 33 and she was just 19 years young. Both were devoted in faith as parents, pillars of the community and most any spare moments were devoted to their three kids. I remember around 4 yrs old my mom coming home from lunch and I would be waiting in my Johnny Unitas football uniform, we have old film of her throwing a pass or launching a thunderous punt even learning to develop a brush back pitch that she had honed from her 5 brothers growing up. No apologies!! She loved the Asheville Tourists and Spartanburg Phillies, the peach shed and summertime churned ice cream. After my dad passed, mom was 60 yrs young, when home, the stories long forgotten would come up, here was mom recalling in the most heartfelt experiences that she had with my sisters and me. Her work ethic and survival mode translated to 50 years in the same position, assistant to 11 presidents of the oldest private college in South Carolina. I remember her ink blue hands after the business of the day or her fretting over something called a computer. I could feel deep in her heart how much a college degree would have meant to her. When she announced her retirement at 86 yrs young, the matriarch of the college as she was known got a surprise! It was my greatest gift to her, securing an Honorary Doctorate Degree, a library study named for her and a weekend of thanks and celebration of her accomplishments from extended family and community. She never dreamed her acceptance speech was to a full auditorium and on YouTube! Yes, she has had "a wonderful life" and incredibly still driving at 95yrs young but sadly the very last surviving member of her high school class.
THANK YOU MOM for all you do and especially your LOVE and DEVOTION. It's always Mother's Day! Much love jb
(JC thank you for providing the forum and the privilege to share, Happy Mother's Day!)
My parents were huge Blazer fans, but especially my Mom. Clyde Drexler was her all time favorite. She adored him! So for Mother’s Day one year I bought her a life sized cardboard cut out of Clyde in his white uniform. She loved it and always had it displayed when they watched the Blazers on TV.
Fast forward to one time when they were on vacation. I got a panicked call from the HOA of their condo community They had me listed as their emergency contact. I was told that worried neighbors were calling the police, telling them there was a man inside their house!
The Medford police investigated… and found Clyde enjoying the off season by their living room window.
My mom was a single mom, who worked nights as a nurse so she could be home for me after school. She was always present and cheering me on during volleyball, basketball and track. I will never forget the day when she was running late to get to my volleyball game and all my teammates said to the ref “we can’t start yet, her mom isn’t here.” Not only was she supporting me, the whole team wanted her there cheering us on.
Like your mom, mine also had a "second act". After decades working as a receptionist in a dental office, she went back to school to become a hygienist, not an easy task for a self-described "C" student with a high school education in her late 40's. Growing up she told me and my brother we could do anything we wanted if "we worked hard and put our mind to it." Watching her demonstrate her words was impressive and made a big impression on me. My Mom passed two weeks ago. I'm grateful for her love and example.
Earlier today I read another piece about Mother's Day titled: Mom-isms - as in: tell me your Mother's best advice or....her Mom-ism. Here are my two favorites of my Mom:
1. "I have seen sicker cats than this get well" As when her favorite baseball team - the Seattle Mariners - were down 5-0 in the 7th inning she would say : don't ever count out the M's - I have seen sicker cats than this get well. She was the most optimistic fan I ever knew.
2. "You will find it right where you left it" As when I couldn't find my baseball glove or basketball or anything else : she would say : you will find it right where you left it. And today, when I can't find my damn car keys or my cell phone and I finally find them, I will say to my wife : Just like my Mom used to say, I found it right where I left it.
Sometimes it takes your adult child to really put into perspective just how great your Mother was. And when my Mom died in 2017, my 25-year-old daughter wrote the following about her Nana, my Mom of 65 years at the time:
I am convinced that my Nana stayed alive this week because she wanted to be alive when Ichiro homered in his (probably) last at-bat at Safeco Field.
She loved Ichiro.
Mother of 4 boys; Nana to six granddaughters - me being the youngest. This morning she passed away at age 90. Thanks to my Nana I will always remember how to beat the boys in Spades and how time flies with those "new" electronic versions of Yahtzee and Solitaire. I'll remember that you can't go wrong with an order of coconut shrimp and that you can't eat just one cheddar biscuit from Red Lobster.
No milkshakes beat Dairy Queen's; no pumpkin pie beats my Nana's secret recipe.
Shortly after my Papa died and I was in Kindergarten, my Nana moved to Denver. She would tell me later that while yes, she wanted a change of scenery, she also thought that helping to look after me as I grew up could be just the medicine she needed for her broken heart.
And with that, we developed the most special bond between grandparent and grandchild.
She always got me to practice on time; she never missed a game or a recital or a living room performance.
One time when my parents were away for the weekend and it was just me and Nana. I told her I needed to make 100 free throws before i could come in for dinner. And when I came in there was chicken noodle soup and a grilled cheese sandwich waiting for me on the table. I sat down and the next thing I remembered my Nana holding me on the floor.
"You passed out into your soup" she said.
She spent all night with me at the hospital in the ER. She had cookies in her purse because that's what Nana always did. She never left me without cookies or a hand to hold.
I will miss that; and I will miss my Nana.
There you go...from the words of a child's perspective. And when I read this as I did this morning, it reminds me just how wonderful my Mom was. And yes, my daughter, I miss her too.
My mum was put in an orphanage by HER mum after WWII (my grandma was a single mother who struggled raising a child who arrived late in her life). Mum ran away from the orphanage after grade nine, found her dad, and moved in with him. She soon met MY dad, they married, and tried to start a family. After several failed pregnancies, they decided to adopt, and that’s how they ended up with me. I was so awesome (ha), they adopted a girl 18 months later. They then became foster parents to maybe a hundred long- and short-term foster kids over their lives. Like me, mum was imperfect, but she did the best she could and she was so proud of me (as if I was her own). She never lived to see me finish my PhD or see our second daughter in this world, but I hope for a time when I can tell her (again) how grateful I was for her love.❤️💔
This. Incredible. What an amazing story and woman.
You ARE her own Kelly! It is the love & time she invested.
(I speak as a proud grandpa of 2 adopted by my child and their spouse.)
I wish more couple would consider adoption, the need is so great.
My Mom, RIP. One of the first women to earn a Master's Degree from Ohio State. The degree was in Social Work, and she joined a medical service in WWII and was assigned to a home for the then-referred-to, retarded women.
She found out that five of her wards were scheduled for a lobotomy. She stole a pickup truck, put the women in the back, and drove over the state line to Arizona, where lobotomies were not allowed. She always looked out for the underdogs in life.
WWII - Her 1st husband was a pilot shot down and killed on a daylight bombing raid over Germany. More members of the Air Force were shot down and killed over France and Germany than Marines were KIA in the Pacific.
Her eldest brother, a tank commander under Patton, after surviving Africa and Italy, was killed at the Battle of the Bulge. Two weeks later, her Dad died of a heart attack.
My Dad made it back from the South Pacific, they met, fell in love, and married. She ended up in a household with a husband and three boys, a tough tour of duty.
My Mom and Dad's generation? Tough as nails but not without love in their hearts.
Thank you, JC, for the opportunity to remember Mama.
What a powerful gift
My Mom’s life was defined by her devout Catholicism. I have saved all her homemade pro-life signs, some of which she displayed in her home window to the (then) horror of her kids. Now I see it differently. My Mom had a heart for children, having 5 of her own. She ran a day care growing up and charged to each, according to their means. This is where I first encountered Down’s Syndrome babies. Later, my Mom made a point of playing chauffeur to adult Down’s friends taking them to and from Mass. I choke up thinking about my Mom. I miss her so much, she gave us kids so much.
What a great heart.
Our moms would have gotten along famously.
My dad was one of the founders of Little League Baseball in our home town but mom was just as important in it's success. Every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday she would drag the Sno Cone machine, the popcorn machine (which was actually just a warming oven with glass sides, and huge bags of popcorn down from our attic and load them in our '56 Rambler station wagon. My two brothers and I would do the heavy lifting while mom rounded up the extension cords and other paraphernaila that would allow her to set up the "concession stand" that funded the league. Most nights the other moms who had signed up to work didn't show so mom would do double duty out of the back of that Rambler as waitress and cashier. Thank you John for making me remember.
I love this
My mom was born seriously poor in Dubuque, Iowa in 1937. She joined the Navy to get out of the Midwest, became an OB-Gyn nurse, then got married and raised 4 kids, managing and later owning a Sears catalog store. Once we were grown she tackled her dream, working as a Financial Advisor while obtaining a CPA designation. But for her, most importantly she took active part in the lives of her 9 grandchildren and traveling the world. Sadly We lost her to Alzheimer’s in 2019 before she had a chance to get to know most of her now 12 great-grandkids but we are all proud of how she lived her life with courage and ambition. Thanks for letting me share.
What a range of skill and perseverance
OK John thanks for the opportunity to honor our mothers. Mine has passed by several years now, but I can tell you some things about her. She was effectively a single Mom (dad was an alcoholic) who raised six kids in rapid succession of age (she had 9 kids in 9 years, three died at childbirth- we were Catholic of course!).
She taught me that women can do ANYTHING, a lesson that I carry with me today. She played every sport with us, attended all our games, worked three jobs at times. I was a pitcher and she was my first catcher. She mounted the basketball hoop to the garage, taught us all how to swim by throwing us off the pier at the lake and saying get back to shore:)
She went back to college after having all the kids (like your Mom). We graduated the same year together. She went into teaching what was then called "special Ed" and went on to get her MS in Education. In the end, the school sytem beat her down and she ended her "working life" as a Walmart greeter. She loved to talk to anyone that would listen. She grew up in a time of great prejudice in the world and in my small New England town, but she was accepting of all (good) people.
At her funeral, as the oldest child I gave the Eulogy. What I said was that as young adults we all dread becoming our parents, but I am happy and grateful I became like Mom.
If you ever want to "crack" any of my online accounts, the passwords are all some combination of her name, birthday, and special things. That's how I remember her every day. Good luck on that!
Love this. Sensational.
I came of age in Valsetz, Oregon. (Google it) We lost our town and Home in 1984. As kids, we hopped logs in the mill pond, caught rides down the Siletz river to swim, played softball, rode Honda 90’s, and bicycled all over town. But get in trouble? Not a chance. Every Mom in town had an eye out and phone in hand if any of us got out of line, bullied or looked at an unlocked car door (they were ALL unlocked, just like the front door of every house in town actually!) Now, those kids are grown and sadly, we have attended too many services for our former Valsetz citizens. The last one, two weeks ago for a town matriarch, there we were reminded that we are losing all of our Town Moms. Indeed, there are but a handful left, including mine. I am thankful she agreed to move us to the end of 17 miles of gravel road to heaven on earth, Valsetz, and became one of the watchful eyes of the Town Moms.
I love that you gave a nod to "Town Moms."
My Mom taught me, against all odds, that I was worthwhile in whatever I did as long as I treated people well. She assured me (many times) that my best effort was more than good enough, and that being first or "best" is not necessarily what it's cracked up to be. Believe it or not, I am positive that her voice and advice made me better than I would have been if I was driven or pushed. It's been important to me to pass this on to our sons, and they are doing the same with our grandkids. Happy Mothers Day Mom--love you very much! And thanks to you as well, John!
I love that you are passing along what she gave to you in such a profound way.
On this day I celebrate my grandmother. My mom had a very hard life and many demons. Some of her own making and some out of the unfairness of life. She left this world 40 years ago and I have to believe she is finally at peace. But my grandmother stepped in and raised me throughout my childhood long before my mom passed, knowing I needed a stable home. She taught me 2 things many take for granted. 1) I had a home I could feel safe in, and 2) I was loved. What more could any kid ask for? But besides that, I remember countless hours at the kitchen table playing Yatzee or Aggravation. She always had time for me. I remember getting up for school and her pancakes. As a little guy I'd always try to eat more pancakes than my grandpa. Grandma always made mine extra small so I could "eat more" than grandpa and "win". My mom passed right after I joined the Air Force and was stationed in Guam. It was sudden, 1 car accident. When I got home to their house the first words out of grandma's mouth were, "you know you always have a home, this has always been your home and always will be." I could go on and on about how loyal, feisty and protective that little 4'11", 95 lb German lady was and what she taught me, but most of all I remember she taught me somebody thought I was worth loving. Not a day goes by I don't miss her!!
Love this. Your grandmother is an inspiration.
Beautiful tribute to her, Jim. Nicely done.
My mom taught me to be kind, polite (please and thank you to all), fiercely loyal to those you love, a protector, a feminist, grateful and generous. She contributed to her community in St John’s as a coach, little league volunteer and mom chauffeur to many kids needing rides to and from practice. She organized union workers at Kaiser and once testified in front of the Supreme Court regarding a case on workers rights.
My love of sports comes primarily from my mom. She loved the Blazers, Atlanta Braves (thanks to Ted Turner), Seahawks and all Oregon Ducks sports, but especially football. I was the first in my family to graduate college and that made her a forever Duck fan.
She passed late last March after a long hospital stay. Last Mothers’ Day was a blur. This feels like the first without her. If she was here, I’d tell her once again that I love her and thank you. If I could take her on a trip, it would be to Scotland, where both her parents immigrated from through Ellis Island in the 1910’s.
What an amazing fact… testified for n front of the Supreme Court!
John- this enterprise of yours is amazing. I lost my mom to breast cancer when I was 5. I have been chasing her for the last 49 years. I just try my best to honor my wife of our two kids. We live in Blackhawk CA. Yes, I was a neighbor to Larry Scott. But today is a special day marked with a little sadness as I wish I had known my mother growing up.
Thank you, Jeff.
My mom was the youngest of 8 born on a country farm, one day she joined her father and came to town along 13 miles of dirt and gravel to buy a Mother's Day gift for her mom. Her father had traded with my dad over the years supporting his small business. My dad always glowed when asked of their first chance meeting, he was 33 and she was just 19 years young. Both were devoted in faith as parents, pillars of the community and most any spare moments were devoted to their three kids. I remember around 4 yrs old my mom coming home from lunch and I would be waiting in my Johnny Unitas football uniform, we have old film of her throwing a pass or launching a thunderous punt even learning to develop a brush back pitch that she had honed from her 5 brothers growing up. No apologies!! She loved the Asheville Tourists and Spartanburg Phillies, the peach shed and summertime churned ice cream. After my dad passed, mom was 60 yrs young, when home, the stories long forgotten would come up, here was mom recalling in the most heartfelt experiences that she had with my sisters and me. Her work ethic and survival mode translated to 50 years in the same position, assistant to 11 presidents of the oldest private college in South Carolina. I remember her ink blue hands after the business of the day or her fretting over something called a computer. I could feel deep in her heart how much a college degree would have meant to her. When she announced her retirement at 86 yrs young, the matriarch of the college as she was known got a surprise! It was my greatest gift to her, securing an Honorary Doctorate Degree, a library study named for her and a weekend of thanks and celebration of her accomplishments from extended family and community. She never dreamed her acceptance speech was to a full auditorium and on YouTube! Yes, she has had "a wonderful life" and incredibly still driving at 95yrs young but sadly the very last surviving member of her high school class.
THANK YOU MOM for all you do and especially your LOVE and DEVOTION. It's always Mother's Day! Much love jb
(JC thank you for providing the forum and the privilege to share, Happy Mother's Day!)
Youngest of eight?!! I love this. Thank you so much for sharing.
My parents were huge Blazer fans, but especially my Mom. Clyde Drexler was her all time favorite. She adored him! So for Mother’s Day one year I bought her a life sized cardboard cut out of Clyde in his white uniform. She loved it and always had it displayed when they watched the Blazers on TV.
Fast forward to one time when they were on vacation. I got a panicked call from the HOA of their condo community They had me listed as their emergency contact. I was told that worried neighbors were calling the police, telling them there was a man inside their house!
The Medford police investigated… and found Clyde enjoying the off season by their living room window.
Great story, love it!!!
Awesome!
My mom was a single mom, who worked nights as a nurse so she could be home for me after school. She was always present and cheering me on during volleyball, basketball and track. I will never forget the day when she was running late to get to my volleyball game and all my teammates said to the ref “we can’t start yet, her mom isn’t here.” Not only was she supporting me, the whole team wanted her there cheering us on.
I love that your teammates said that. Just love it.
My mother always saved the last piece of pie mostly for me.
Simple… and so telling. We know so much about her in that little act.
Like your mom, mine also had a "second act". After decades working as a receptionist in a dental office, she went back to school to become a hygienist, not an easy task for a self-described "C" student with a high school education in her late 40's. Growing up she told me and my brother we could do anything we wanted if "we worked hard and put our mind to it." Watching her demonstrate her words was impressive and made a big impression on me. My Mom passed two weeks ago. I'm grateful for her love and example.
Thank you for sharing this. What a gift she gave you.
Earlier today I read another piece about Mother's Day titled: Mom-isms - as in: tell me your Mother's best advice or....her Mom-ism. Here are my two favorites of my Mom:
1. "I have seen sicker cats than this get well" As when her favorite baseball team - the Seattle Mariners - were down 5-0 in the 7th inning she would say : don't ever count out the M's - I have seen sicker cats than this get well. She was the most optimistic fan I ever knew.
2. "You will find it right where you left it" As when I couldn't find my baseball glove or basketball or anything else : she would say : you will find it right where you left it. And today, when I can't find my damn car keys or my cell phone and I finally find them, I will say to my wife : Just like my Mom used to say, I found it right where I left it.
Sometimes it takes your adult child to really put into perspective just how great your Mother was. And when my Mom died in 2017, my 25-year-old daughter wrote the following about her Nana, my Mom of 65 years at the time:
I am convinced that my Nana stayed alive this week because she wanted to be alive when Ichiro homered in his (probably) last at-bat at Safeco Field.
She loved Ichiro.
Mother of 4 boys; Nana to six granddaughters - me being the youngest. This morning she passed away at age 90. Thanks to my Nana I will always remember how to beat the boys in Spades and how time flies with those "new" electronic versions of Yahtzee and Solitaire. I'll remember that you can't go wrong with an order of coconut shrimp and that you can't eat just one cheddar biscuit from Red Lobster.
No milkshakes beat Dairy Queen's; no pumpkin pie beats my Nana's secret recipe.
Shortly after my Papa died and I was in Kindergarten, my Nana moved to Denver. She would tell me later that while yes, she wanted a change of scenery, she also thought that helping to look after me as I grew up could be just the medicine she needed for her broken heart.
And with that, we developed the most special bond between grandparent and grandchild.
She always got me to practice on time; she never missed a game or a recital or a living room performance.
One time when my parents were away for the weekend and it was just me and Nana. I told her I needed to make 100 free throws before i could come in for dinner. And when I came in there was chicken noodle soup and a grilled cheese sandwich waiting for me on the table. I sat down and the next thing I remembered my Nana holding me on the floor.
"You passed out into your soup" she said.
She spent all night with me at the hospital in the ER. She had cookies in her purse because that's what Nana always did. She never left me without cookies or a hand to hold.
I will miss that; and I will miss my Nana.
There you go...from the words of a child's perspective. And when I read this as I did this morning, it reminds me just how wonderful my Mom was. And yes, my daughter, I miss her too.
Thank you Karl for sharing this!