Mother’s Day is one of those joyous/sad holidays. Joyous
because my children celebrate with me—either in person or via Facetime. Sad
because I miss my mother.
This picture was taken outside the church after my
baptism. She was so young, only twenty when I was born. Six more children came
after me. Coming from a family of two, she didn’t quite know what to do with
seven. But she managed. Dad built our house—with help from his brothers and
dad. Once the basic interior was done, sheetrock walls and plywood floors, he
was done. So it was up to Mom to finish. She learned how to spackle and tape
and lay tile floors. Not the peel-and-stick type tile. Oh, no. The kind where
you had to spread tarry-like adhesive. She’d never done anything like that. But
she managed.
Add nursing care to her list of accomplishments. All of us
children went through many of the childhood illnesses today’s kids are
vaccinated against—measles (both kinds), mumps, chicken pox. Mom managed our
care. Broken bones, lacerations, etc. sent her to Emergency, injured kid in
tow. When my dad’s COPD became worse, she nursed him, too.
After he was gone, she blossomed. Took trips around Europe
with my mother-in-law and her sister, sold off the albatross of a house, enjoyed
her grandchildren, and gardened for fun in her new condo.
She celebrated her 80th
birthday with family and friends before Alzheimer’s sneaked in and stole her
from us. As the disease progressed, we occasionally caught glimpses of her old
self. The last picture I have of her (below) was taken six weeks before she
died. Maybe it’s wishful thinking, but I see recognition in her eyes. That she
understood she was holding my first grandchild.
I wish my daughter-in-law and my grandchildren could have known what a remarkable
woman she was.
Such a touching and heartfelt tribute. What an amazing woman, and so beautiful. Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts and pictures with us. Have a lovely week.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Nicola. I hope your week is lovely, too.
DeleteThey do, Mom...when you and we tell her story.
ReplyDeleteAww. Thanks, sweetie.
Delete