My mother was a wonderful, loving person. She always gave all that she had to everyone in her life. She had the patience of Job. Mom gave birth to eight live children and adopted many more in her heart. She was the one who everyone looked to for advice. She was a rock and an anchor for all of us. Mom had a way with people that was unmatched by anyone I ever knew. She was open and loving and accepting of anyone, no matter their skin color or status in society.
What I remember about growing up was her gardens. She had an enormous stawberry patch. She made all sorts of creations for us to enjoy, even though she was allergic to strawberries. Her vegetable gardens were the envy of many neighbors and friends. I can remember going out there and eating the raw vegetables in the garden. We had trees and bushes of many fruits on our property and Mom used every possible product from them to make jams, jellies, and preserves for the winter. Her pies were heavenly. She always used the left over crust to make us little turnovers to eat while trying to exercise patience for a real piece of pie. Her kitchen was her castle. Mom lived in there and I know she was a much better dessert cook than some of these ones we see on TV. When I was six years old and put my play iron in the broiler part of the stove and burned down half the kitchen, I thought I was done for, that I would get the whipping of my life. Mom just hugged me and told me that it was okay, that we all make mistakes.
Mom was a funloving person. She enjoyed splashing around in the pool with the neighbor kids and the grandkids. Mom loved the games we played and always joined in when we played softball or when we were sledding down the hill in the winter time. Mom loved board games and she always let everyone know when she would get a yahtzee or other significant point in the games. Mom had an infectious laugh. It didn't take much to hear her laugh and once you did, you had to join in!
When I was an adult and pregnant but not married, Mom was there for me. She stood beside me and let me know that it was okay. She loved me unconditionally and would always be there for me. When I was near death in my pregnancy Mom made sure she stayed by my side until she knew I and was going to be all right.
In November of 1997, on the day my parents celebrated their sixty first anniversary, Mom had a fatal heart attack. It came as a shock for us, even though we knew it was going to happen one day. She had been ailing for quite some time. I struggled with emotions. I knew it was going to be different from that point on. As I was crying one night my mom came into my presence. I felt her arms around me, the smell of her lilac perfume floated in the air and she let me know that all was well with her, that she was no longer in pain and was happy. That is all that was important.
Mom will always have a special place in my heart where she lives forever.
