October 13, 2007.
It's been five years ago, 1,825 days since my mother left this earth and entered her heavenly home.
(The picture above was NOT taken in 2010, that's the date I took a picture of the picture to use for something.)
I remember that real picture day so very long ago.
I was in the wedding of a dear friend of our family.
That net dress was so sticky, but I didn't mind.
I thought I looked just lovely.
It was a Christmas wedding...
everyone was in white and
I carried a silver glittered basket full
of red poinsettias.
I can still see it in my mind's eye.
At the reception, Mother held my basket so I could eat cake and drink punch.
My mother was so pretty.
I was always very proud of her when she'd come to my class parties.
She was slim, young and always smelled good.
She was fiercely protective of her family.
As I grew older, married and moved away, I got busy with life.
Our lives both had their ups and downs.
But we never lost touch.
She never forgot a special occasion, never held it against me if I did and
loved me with all her heart.
I have written before that her beginnings were humble...she was adopted from the Jackson Children's Village by my grandparents when she was several months old.
She told me she remembered finding out that she was adopted when she was in the third grade.
Some children laughed at her and called her names because of it.
How she put her head on her arm on the brick wall of the school building and sobbed.
Her beginnings colored her life, but in a good way.
She was thrifty, smart, kind and very creative.
She didn't seek the limelight, but was content to be wife and mother.
She taught her three children to be watchful of the needs of others,
to anticipate when somebody was in dire straits.
She wanted us to be Christians, to be kind and to live life with joy.
She wanted us to excel, but didn't love us less when we didn't.
October 13th, such a sad day for me and my family.
I know that she's better off...but I'm not.
I can hardly wait to see her again.
To hug her and tell her how much I've missed her.
Thank you for all you taught us...and for all you did for others.
I love you, Mama.
2 comments:
Angela,your Mom was a beautiful lady. What sweet things you wrote about her. You look so much like your Mom. She taught all of you some wonderful traits to have. You and Leslie have always been such sweet, kind people. I do not know Harry,but see him often in Oxford. He has a great smile like you girls. Ben really favors you. I'll never forget what a cute little boy he was at pre school. Thanks for sharing. VM
I am so sorry. I lost my beloved grandmother in October so I understand how you feel. You and your mother are both so pretty. I love that picture of her smiling at you. Such a treasure.
I was always proud of my mother, too, and I thought she was beuatiful, well groomed, and smelled good. Isn't that funny? But I guess smell was important to a chilld. Mama always wore a particular scent, and I can smell it by heart.
Loved reading this. Thanks for sharing.
XO,
Sheila
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