Happy Mother's Day to all my fellow mothers! And, even though I'm a mother, my thoughts are with my own mother today. Yesterday she celebrated her 86th birthday and I wish I could have been with her. I love her and miss her.
I was thinking of her and the legacy she left me...not of money or material possessions but of memories. What I remember most about her is how calm and unflappable she was in times of stress and crisis. I don't think I ever saw her upset or freaked out over anything. When I cut off the end of my finger when I was 10, she calmly wrapped the whole mess in a towel and told me everything would be all right as she drove me to the hospital. When I cried because I didn't want to go to school (which was often), she'd be sympathetic and loving as she firmly escorted me back to school. When we had a substantial earthquake in our area, she was the picture of stability during the rocking and rolling. When my dad got sick, she was supportive and reassuring even though I know it was frightening for her. Whatever crisis (whether big or small) she was faced with, she handled it with calmness and grace. I don't think I realized what a gift that was.
Every one of us leaves a legacy for our children. What will ours be?
Beautiful, loving post!
ReplyDeleteGolden memories / legacy.
I working on my legacy, since my children and grandchildren started 'building' their memories.
These are the most important things in life...not being 'things', though.
Cheers,
Jeanneke.
Thank you Jeanneke...sometimes we forget that the most important things in life aren't things.
DeleteI had the privilege of knowing your mom. In my mind she was tall, gracious and very 'together'. I have a special memory of her at about the time we were in the lower grades at Osage. We were having a true heat wave from a Santa Ana wind event. If my memory serves me correctly, she brought lemonade or a similar cool drink for us to have in class one sweltering afternoon. What a sweet lady.
ReplyDeleteI had no idea you ever wanted to miss school! I thought I was the only one. Sharing our secrets 50 years after the fact~ priceless!
Thank you for that sweet memory Dana!
DeleteI don't think there was a semester that went by where I didn't cry about not wanting to go to school :) Glad to know that I wasn't the only one! What our poor mothers went through!