Sunday, June 5, 2022
Over the years, any time Mom attended a funeral service...she would marvel at all the beautiful and wonderful accolades that were said about the one who had passed. She always followed up sheepishly with ..."Oh my gosh, I just don't know how you'll find ANYTHING to say about me...! I haven't accomplished much at ALL compared to this person or that one." Mom...How wrong you were! ...That is SO far from our truth, and all who were Blessed to know you. We could all go on forever!! And still not come close to mentioning all the many examples of how everyone felt about you, and all of the ways you touched our lives and hearts. You are so Loved, Admired, and Respected. You shared your Laughter, Nurturing, Humor and Adventurous Self with all who knew you as a Wife, Mom, worlds best Mother In-law, Aunt, Grandma, Great Grandma, Friend, Parishioner, Co-worker, Neighbor or Sports team player. You, Mom, have Nothing to worry about in the Beautiful and Wonderful accolade's department.
So, my Mom and I are alike in a few ways....and for the many ways we are NOT...I still have a lot of work to do so I can be even more like her. My mom makes me want to be a better person. During the special time I had with her in the hospital I whispered some promises to her, that I would not just recognize all of her examples of how she lived a great life...but honor her by putting more of those examples into action in my life and the lives of my children and grandchildren. She and I are going to work on that together. I hope we can ALL honor her by living and loving like Mom did.
Mom had a passion for bookkeeping, and I mean TO THE PENNY bookkeeping! She loved to do her books by hand, in a Steno pad, and prided herself in knowing that if you asked her ANY kind of financial question going back even 50 years she could go thru her stacks of beautifully written Steno pads and tell you EXACTLY how much their Expenses were and HOPEFULLY the few pennies they had left over in the Income column...and just how much her monthly electric bill was in the winter of 1958. Mom LOVED doing her books. She passed on that skill and love of bookkeeping to me and the challenge of being frugal but generous. The love and trust to she showed in letting me help her in the past few years, so that I can step in now, and finish her work meant so much to me. Thank you Mom for your gentle letting go of something you loved to do, and for how organized and prepared you were in handing things off. It's an honor to step into your "bookkeeping shoes" and let me help take care of dad in that area the way you always did.
My mom had so many admirable characteristics and qualities. She didn't gossip, she didn't criticize, she LIVED "if you don't have something nice to say...don't say it", she treated everyone fairly, she NEVER stirred the pot! No drama!
She let so many things roll off her back, she was a Peacemaker, she was a great listener, she always paid attention to what everyone in our family was up to. She showed how much she cared by always following up or asking questions, which let you know she was paying attention and that you and your family mattered. She always looked on the Bright side, always up for family events, and ready for adventures like camping, floating down the river on the pontoon, or taking an RV road trip! Mom always loved to check the weather...at home... where you live or watching the weather and checking the map where you were vacationing, whether it was a good day for Tennis, or golf, or flying. She loved a good day of ’Shun-shine". I know you are enjoying all of the Beauty and SON- shine there is in Heaven, Mom. You are surrounded by the Saints and Angels. You worked for and earned your entrance through that narrow gate. Please keep praying for all of us, that we understand it's not enough to "know" your example but to LIVE your example and practice your Faith, so that we too can earn our Eternal Salvation and once again be united as a Family for Eternity. I love you Mom, and I'll miss you every day. ....Laurie
