She always wanted to be a mom.
She worked in a horrid garment factory for a man who cheated her out of honestly earned wages after Dad left.
She managed to keep us fed and clothed nonetheless, refusing food stamps even though she qualified.
She worked to improve her lot and finally get out of the factory and into an office after 9 years. I was never so proud and happy for her even though I was still in high school.
She transformed a falling down dump of a house into a livable home with love and her own two hands that were skilled in carpentry.
She sewed clothes for my brother and me from things the factory would have thrown away. She made quilts for us and for more people than I can remember.
She taught herself guitar and about 5 years ago decided she wanted to learn to play the harp. She has now played harp professionally a few times.
She is the technology guru of the family. She still wants to build her own computer someday.
She had enough grace to forgive her parents their faults as parents so my brother and I could have 2 fine grandparents.
She maintained a close and loving relationship with our paternal grandparents until they died 15 years after she'd been divorced from their son. That gave us two more wonderful grandparents.
When my brother and I were small she had us 'adopt' some folks who needed grandchildren even though we had 4 terrific grandparents. She knew the folks needed some to love and be loved.
Now that we are grown and she has 3 grandchildren, she has 'adopted' some other grandchildren because there's still plenty of love to go around for those that need a little extra loving.
She taught me how to make the world's best funny cake. (That's a Pennsylvania German dessert, and if you don't believe me, ask Susie how good it is).
Even when her own mother was dying, she was thinking how best to arrange things for the ease of others. (Have the service on a weekend so her brother in CA wouldn't have to miss so much work. Have it at the chapel in her retirement village so if there are friends who can't drive they can still attend.)
She has taught me never to stop living, learning, or loving.
Thanks, Mom. I love you.
Happy Mother's Day.
24 comments:
A sweet, loving tribute to your mom. She has a wonderful daughter who has learned to appreciate the things in life that matter.
Happy MOther's Day Lime.
HUGS
tc
What a lovely tribute! You always manage to say things beautifully.
Your mom sounds like a marvel- You are one lucky lime :)
Happy Mothers Day to you too sweet :)
Awww Lime..what a way to honor your mother! She sounds terrific by the way. Happy Mother's Day to you and to your loving mother! HUGS!
Wow, that was awesome!
I hope you E-Mailed this to her?
Very sweet Michelle!!
Happy Mothers Day to you! xoxox
What a wonderful, strong, loving woman. Happy Mothers Day to her - and to you!
That's beautiful, Lime. :)
Moms rock. Great post. Happy Mothers Day!
You write such lovely tributes to those who mean the most to you. Thank you for sharing this with us. And Happy Mother's Day to you with your own children now...I'm sure a few of those traits are being passed down the line.
I daresay the Lime doesn't fall far from the tree.
Ah, that was just lovely, Lime. Happy Mother's Day. :D
Wow your Mom is wonderful and look, she passed all that down to you. I hope the clan had a wonderful Mothers Day.
Awesome Lime now we know where you got what you got:-}
Oh man, now I want funny cake for breakfast......
I need that recipe again, I lost it!
Someone left the cake out in the rain...
I dont think that I can take it
Cuz it took so long to bake it
And I'll never have that recipe agaiiinnn....
Ooohhhh noooooooooooooooooooo!
ha ha!!!!!
(the Donna Summers version)
LOL!
Your mom rocks, Lime, and that is just the sweetest thing you wrote.
Bless
Your mother sounds like a strong, wonderful woman. I hope she has an opportunity to see this beautiful tribute to her by the daughter who loves her so.
Wow! She sounds like a wonderful mom. She is inspiring to all woman, young and old, moms or not. I am glad you have her!
Michelle, what a wonderful tribute to a wonderful mom! A belated Happy Mom's Day to the two of you!
*sigh*
aren't moms awesome?
What a great mom meme and you've really learned the important things in life to be passed on to your children!
What a sweet reminiscence of your childhood. I can see where you got your caring nature.
Lime,
A wonderful post about a wonderful mom. Congratulations for having been raised by such a role model, I'm sure you have been/are/will always be the same for yours.
With admiration,
Charles
I'm so glad that I got to hear about your wonderful mother. It sounds like she has a lot in common with mine who at the age of 70 is manning the helplines at Samaritans to listen to other people's problems. We are both very lucky to have had such strong women as role models.
That was so sweet! What a great post.
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