Sunday, May 10, 2009

Tribute to Mom












It has been seven years since I celebrated Mother's Day with my mom and though my brain knows to move along, my heart doesn't seem to get the message. Hardly a day passes that I don't think of her in some way. She wasn't especially extraordinary in a particular way, as all of us are, she lacked perfection. She was one of the older siblings in a family of ten children so at a very early age cooking, sewing and taking care of the younger ones was part of her life. She knew hard work early on with the help she provided and picking cotton. The countless stories I have heard, her life was a bit challenging. Canning, freezing, picking wild blackberries, tending to her flowers, hanging clothes on the line were things I always remember her doing. She crocheted afghans, made quilts, candlewicking and sewed. I never had a store bought dress until I was in high school. I have countless memories of time spent in the fabric store looking at patterns and material. Suits, blouses, skirts, long dresses for piano recitals. She even made one of her younger sisters wedding gown. The light blue dress with lace was one made for me to wear in a school pageant, she also made my senior prom dress. She made me some dresses when I was pregnant with my son and I have some dresses she made my daughter. The photo where she is holding BigBoy, she made that outfit. Okay, the point is she had a lot of talent. Later in years as she saw quilts that were being made and displayed, she felt like her work was really not that great. She didn't make them for show, though they were carefully planned and were made very well, they were functional. All of our family has some of her quilts.
The countless times we had family, a whole lot of family, over for meals at the house. So many of my cousins that were close to mama, she was easy to talk to, shared her opinion and helped however she could. The many weddings she helped with food. The hours she spent with the grandchildren. They loved to go to my parents house to spend the night. Baking cookies, big country breakfasts. She was funny, blunt, kind and stubborn. Always having our favorite food cooked on the weekends that we came home from school. The times that she showed up at my door to help when BigBoy and VolleyGirl were babies, arriving early Christmas morning to watch the kids see their gifts. The many times that I met her at the craft shows or the shopping center to spend time together. Talks on the phone, every day, about current events, family, news from extended family. Discussing everyone after the family get together was over. I would always get a report after she went somewhere- who was there, how they were, what was said. I recall, weird as it sounds, after she died, thinking that she was somewhere new, experiencing and seeing things new.....and I wasn't going to hear her tell me about it. She always said that it didn't matter where we lived, as long as we were happy, she would be fine with it. One of my brothers lives in Louisiana and I know she missed not having him close but there never was any pressure on him, as long as he was happy. Words do not adequately describe what an important person in our family she was or what a massive void her passing has left in my life, and others. I was honored and pleased to care for her in the months before her death, it was just a droplet of what all she had done for me and for once I could be there when she needed help. Thanks mom, for all you were and for the priceless lessons and memories, you are missed as much as you were loved......

























































22 comments:

  1. Teresa, This is a loving sweet tribute to your mom. It brought tears to my eyes reading this as this month it will be 15 years ago My Mom died of Cancer. I miss her daily too. Our Moms did so much & meant so much for us & they leave such a void when gone. Here's to all the fabulous Mothers who deserve recognition for all they do and have done.

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  2. A wonderful tribute to your Mom. Happy Mothers Day.

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  3. Thank you for sharing your memories of your mom, and while you say that words can't express how important she was in your life, nor the void that is left, this is a wonderful attempt- All I would like to say is how fortunate for those who knew and loved her.

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  4. Its a wonderful & touching post.
    A great tribute to all moms:)

    Happy Mother's Day!

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  5. Nice Header!

    You very much look like your mom. She looks so cute:)

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  6. What a sweet post for your Mom!
    I just lost my Dad and I think of him every day.
    I can imagine you still miss your Mother, she sounds like the perfect Mom to me.
    I still have my Mom and today I brought her to my house and took care of her.... I washed and ironed her clothes. Made her dinner and I even have to help her to the toilet, but it is all nothing compared with what she did for me in her life.
    Hope you had a wonderful day despite of the fact you miss your Mom.

    Happy Mother's Day!

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  7. Your mother would be so proud of this post.

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  8. What a wonderful tribute to your Mother. I can tell she was someone very special in your life. My mom also sewed a lot and made most of our clothes. I remember her canning and she was a very artistic person as well. I know you inherited a lot of your mom's traits as you are such a wonderful mom, yourself. Your children will write lovely tributes to you too. Happy Mother's Day!

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  9. What a lovely tribute to you sweet sweet mum.

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  10. this brought tears to my eyes as i didn't have this with my mom at all. she has been gone 28 years, and i don't miss her at all...isn't that sad?? sigh...you are so lucky to have known this kind of love from her...

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  11. T - this is SO lovely. I can feel everything you are talking about - you are so lucky to have had such a wonderful mom. Hope you had a happy mothers day -

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  12. beautiful tribute. She sounded like an extraordinary woman. What nice memories you have!

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  13. Thanks for sharing the memories of your mom. I too miss my mother and think about her at least once each day.

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  14. My first time here and what a wonderful post I found!

    Congrats on POTD Contender.

    Jane

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  15. i think my eyes are wet...what a beautiful...straight from the heart description of ur mom...

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  16. you are lucky that you were there with your mother when she needed you. We can never repay what our parents have done for us but if we are able to give them comfort in their old age and make them feel wanted and important then I think that will be like just a droplet of what all they have done for us. This reminded me of my father, when he was in his death bed and needed me i could not go there and I always feel guilty because of that.

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  17. Beautiful post! Congratulations on the Post of the Day Award from authorblog!

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  18. My mom died 11 months ago, and I cared for her in our home up to the moment she died...I imagine that 6 years from now, I will feel much the same as I do now...as you do...thank you for sharing this...there are tears in my eyes as I can so relate to your feelings this Mother's Day! Congrats on POTD! This is a beautiful and moving post! ~Janine

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  19. What a touching tribute lovely lady!! You're mom would cry to read such sweet words of love written from you heart like this AU :)
    You are precious........

    Steady On
    Reggie Girl

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  20. The "ordinary heroes" are the best kind. You did her proud with this.

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  21. And that you still have all those wonderful things she spent time and love making, is just beautiful, AU...

    My mum was not at all crafty! Still, I have her face to remember her by - It looks back at me each day in the mirror as I get a little bit older each day ;) I never thought it would, as I always used to look more like my dad... I have my dad's crooked middle finger on one hand, to remember him by - It's odd, is it not...

    Love to you, AU, and many blessings and congratulations on David's Post of the Day - You deserve it more than ever, and your mum was such a beauty - You are so like her... xxooxx

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