I lost my mother this past week…….94 years young.
She passed peacefully with the care of her nurses, PSW’s, and doctor. Thank you.
By her side were some wonderful friends from her church who hovered over her these past many months, and made sure she was safe and warm. Thank you.
Time can be cruel sometimes, and I missed being with her in her last moments. Perhaps fortuitous, as I would rather remember her as I experienced on the last visit I made shortly before her 94th birthday.
I made her laugh.
Perhaps my most favorite thing to do, and more important my favorite memory. My mom loved to laugh, she loved a good joke, or a good comedy.
Her laugh and smile, and ability to laugh about her own foibles was perhaps, among many, her most endearing quality.
She made you feel heard.
She had a great humility.
It’s been hard. Hard to watch her become less able. This rock of life who I always knew had more strength in her left pinky than I had in my whole body.
Born in the depression, a part of the so called “Silent Generation”, they spent young adulthood in a post-war period. This group is known for accepting rather than speaking out, and accepting modest means with little complaint.
My mom was a victim of numerous lifethreatening diseases, and a lifetime of challenge and loss. Through it all, she always smiled, never complained, always made the best of the difficult situation.
Her friends always remarked to me, how she would never complain. She would speak up if she felt there was an injustice or incogruency in life, but she never complained about her circumstances.
My mom was a ROCK.
I think the thing my mother was most proud of was the boys she chose to raise. Brad and I were both adopted by this wonderful soul.
She didn’t have to choose us, we got pretty lucky I’d say!
She always revelled in knowing what things we’d been up to, what new worlds we were experiencing.
She always listened, and a great pride would rise in her face as she saw our passion and our growth expressed in our stories.
Our stories told, just like most mothers do, she would ask us if everything was ok, as though she would swoop in and fix all that wasn’t right if and when she had to, but she never had to.
Ok, maybe a few times when were were young 😉 LOL
We were her greatest pride until one day her wonderful grand-daughter Gretchen was born. We were no match for this little package. Lois was especially proud to be Grandma.
My only regret is she only got her wish to be Grandma after she had turned 78, and she didn’t get to spend the time I know she would have loved simply because it was just too much.
Time was passing, like it does for all of us.
Slowly, the water and the winds of time eroded the rock, and the rock became a pebble, and the pebble became a grain of sand, and now that grain of sand has blown away, never to be seen or heard again.
But the sand will find it’s resting place, she is now a part of us, oh how we miss her so.
Her friends at her church say she is now in paradise. I just know she is safe, and that’s all that matters to me.
On mother’s day, I celebrate this soul who for a moment, blessed us with her love, kindness, and protection.
I miss you mom XO.
Scotty