April 6, was my mother’s birthday. She would have been 100 if she was still alive. She died at my sister’s home on August 13, 2010 at the age of 90. I was with my sister when Mom died and of course it was very traumatic. The woman who had loved us unconditionally for so many years took her leave from the earth and traveled to her well deserved heavenly reward. But my sister, brother and I were filled with grief because when she left, we were left with a void in our hearts.
When I think back on my childhood, there are many happy memories. Mom was a stay at home Mom, while my Dad worked two jobs to support us. I had three siblings, an older brother, and younger brother and sister.
Growing up in the 1960’s and 1970’s was a very interesting time. We experienced monumental changes in the world and society. The first presidential televised debate, 1960, the first American in space, 1961, the assassination of President Kennedy , 1962, the Vietnam War, 1965, the assassination of Martin Luther King , 1968 and the first man on the moon, 1969 just to name a few of the many historical changes in our country.
Despite all these changes, one thing that was a constant during these years, was the love of our mother. She was a very strong woman, a woman of faith, who gave all of us a genuine sense of security. Totally giving of herself, she sacrificed more than we will ever know for her children and husband. All the mundane things she did for the family every day were done lovingly.
Not that things were always easy raising four very different children. There were times when I remember my mother saying, “I am going to walk out that back door and never come back.” She faced the frustration of every parent from time to time, but luckily never did walk out the back door. We looked toward her as a teacher, counselor, and guide as we journeyed through the awkward teenage years and into adulthood. She was only a call or visit away when we needed her.
Despite the fact that she is not physically here with us anymore, I believe that she lives on in my brother, sister and me. We all have our favorite memories of her and live lives that were fashioned by her over the many years that we were gifted with her presence. Missing you Mom, loving you forever!
