When Mother-In-Law Becomes Mother
                        Written Dec. 7, 1986

When my husband and I first married his mother did not like me at all.  This poem explains what happened over the years.

She did not like me from day one,
and I knew this oh so well.
She didn't try to hide it, or keep it to herself.
You see, she only had one son left at home, he was her baby boy,
and then I came along and took her pride and joy.
A year went by, then five and ten, and things weren't much better, she was a typical "mother-in-law" right down to the letter.
Just when it happened, I do not know, but things are different now. 
Two women who once were far apart are very close some how.
Maybe it took all those years for me to pass the test.
As a wife to her son, would I be the best?
Now when I look at her it's not just my "mother-in law" I see.  She's not only the mother of the one I love, but she's now "mother' to me.

      Connie
June 28, 1919-
June 18, 1993

                                  SKIP
             Written about my father-in-law in 1987.

Skip's not a big man, no not at all.
But it dosen't matter, you know, whether he's short or tall.
He goes on in this world like he hasen't a care,
but when I call on him for help, he's always been there.
He comes in the back door whistling loud,
and everyone knows without asking,"it's Skip, without a doubt."
His boys give him a hard time but it's all in jest and fun,
cause when you get down to it, each one is proud to be his son.
I've been his daughter-in-law for twenty years now,
and though I've never told him, I think he knows some how, he means more to me than I can say.
And when we play cards and he yells at me, I yell back, but I love him anyway.  So Happy Father's Day Skip and remember this, if anything should happen to you, you would surely be missed.

              Skip
May 6, 1915-June 15, 1999

Skip & Connie