Let me tell you about my mother...

Let me tell you about my mother because there are some things you may not know...some things I'd like to stand up on the top of the world and shout, but realizing this is neither practical, nor possible, this will have to do.

    Let me tell you about my mother. Let me tell you about her hands. Those hands could prepare a beef roast dinner like no other (closest Aunt Alva's).
    Those hands could sew beautiful clothes for years, to include many, many uniforms for band and baton competitions, and more importantly, even a wedding dress for my sister.
    They were tender enough to feed my sister when she was a newborn with a tiny medicine dropper for weeks, yet strong enough to backhand a sassy teenager. (all of us at one time or another)
    Those hands wrote more encouraging letters than I could count. each one giving me the courage to stay in college no matter what...Her encouragement? The weekend was coming and when I got home she'd have me a roast beef dinner waiting...and we'd go shopping.
    They could wipe the tears from the eyes of a baby, a young child, a teenager whose heart was broken, a young mother whose heart was broken, and even the tears of this child pretty much every time I visited her in the nursing home and had to leave her there.
    My mother's hands were the strongest I ever held. In any situation, if I could just hold onto her, I knew I was safe. I will miss them.

    Let me tell you about her feet. Oh! The places they've been! Dad didn't like to travel much, just to Gatlinburg and back, and of course they stayed at Marshall's Creek Rest...every time. Status quo for Dad. I got a few trips to Myrtle Beach out of them simply because I wore Dad down, but basically he was a homebody.
    Not my mother! Her travels have taken her to Arizona and through each and every state in between as she and Aunt Gerry went to visit her brother, but weren't the best at following a map. Suffice to say they called periodically on their adventure and we could barely understand them for the laughter!
     Mom was always the chaperone for every school trip I went on...first when I was a student, then when I "grew up" and was the teacher! If a New York trip was planned, she was top on the list of chaperones. The travel agent simply put her name down as "Mom".
    The thing about Mom's feet was this: They were always about 2 steps behind you! I knew throughout my life that she was there and somehow she knew just when to step up beside me.

    Let me tell you about her eyes...my mother's beautiful blue eyes. Those eyes were the kindest eyes, the wisest eyes, and yes, the all-seeing eyes of a mother who knew her children. With one look she knew if you had gotten a speeding ticket, if someone had hurt your feelings, if you had been treated unfairly, if you were scared, worried, angry, troubled, or just sad. Not a word had to be spoken if Mom could look into your eyes. This because a challenge for many years since her eyesight practically left her, but believe me, those eyes could still see into the hearts of her children and they were as blue as ever.

    Let me tell you about my mother's heart. My mother's heart was filled with totally unselfish love for her family. First for Dad, then for Margie, Bobby, Tommy, Julia, and me. There was not a child, grandchild, or a great-grandchild she wouldn't have laid down her life for. It was not about "Mom"...ever. Not a one of us could deny that Mom's life was lived for her kids. When she was unable to give materially or physically anymore it broke her heart. I assured her that she had given more abundantly than any parent I knew of and it was our turn to give to her. She accepted gifts, graciously, but was sad when her time came to be only on the receiving end.

    My mother was my best friend. she was my confidant. She was the one I shared my laughs with and my tears. She was the person I gave my best hugs to. I will miss those hugs, those dear sweet hands, those tired feet, and those beautiful crystal blue eyes. But, her heart will live on in me because I am part of her and for that I am eternally grateful.