31 Comments
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John C. Lamb's avatar

What an awesome tribute to your Mother!! Great writing, as I have become accustomed to in reading your work on Substack!! ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ

Sea Sentry's avatar

What a magnificent life your mother lived. She was clearly a very special person. Happy Motherโ€™s Day!

S.P.H.'s avatar

The connection between a mother and her son(s) is powerful. A child knit together in the womb, a fully separate human being yet filled with the blood of the mother, totally reliant on that umbilical cord for nine months. Then another dozen and more years after that. I've read the most common last words heard on the battlefield from the fatally injured is "Mom" For those that had less than idyllic childhoods, I'm sorry. For us there is Jesus, hope is not lost.

I am a father of a daughter, a foreign experience for me coming from a family of four boys. There is a similar bond as between mothers and sons. Let me say to fathers of girls, be a man for your daughter, be the example of what you want her to marry some day, because you are that example.

Thank you AMUSE for the heartfelt revelation. Baring one's soul in such a public manner takes strength. Strength you acquired from both parents, I'm sure. She had her hand on you during your recent medical emergency. Through Jesus you will see her again, for eternity. Plenty of time to learn more of her Lotus adventures, her breaking the bond of gravity, her felling the earth move, literally, under her feet. I know I'm looking forward to seeing my Mom again.

Pnoldguy's avatar

Tearful as I remember and wish I had been a better son.

Alexander Muse's avatar

I think we all do eventually.

Ruth H's avatar

Very true of us daughters.

Ruth H's avatar

I also know both my sons will miss me when Iโ€™m gone. They both treat me so very well and show me in so many ways their kindness and appreciation. Iโ€™m truly blessed.

Chris Merkling's avatar

I love this story about your mother...the, "...one who existed before we did and the one who reshaped herself, again and again, so we could exist comfortably. The mother who packed your lunch had a life before she met your father... did not stop being any of those women, of course. She just made room for you..."

These are thoughts, which you so eloquently stated, evolved as I grew and started connecting the dots about the life of my own mother. Born in 1920, she was the oldest of 10, left her job as THE secretary for the mayor (I realized what an amazing feat that was when I saw a picture of her seated at a wooden desk in the middle of her office,) to join the Navy for the "war effort." That took her from a small town in SE Idaho to Hunter College in NY. When feeling sad about my daughter leaving for college, my mother said, "Be happy for her. When I left for NY, I was excited." She was then stationed as a Wave in SFO. I remember her often singng, "I left my heart, in San Francisco..." She sent $ home to help w her 9 siblings. I found a piece of Christmas paper where, my now, adult aunts and uncles, had written in their young child like penmanship, thank you notes to their sister for the dolls, etc. that she sent. She talked about the ticker tape parade when the war ended; finding the letter she wrote describing it to her family was an added bonus.

Thank you for sharing your story and giving me the opportunity to reminisce about my mom, too, who married my dad at age 32, who together, raised 7 children of their own, served us breakfast at the table every morning before school, dressed us in our Sunday attire every week for Church, sent us to Catholic School, and, yes, she wrote us letters, too. She was there for all of us as we grew into adulthood. The life she had before, "making room for us," is what made her the mother we often didn't appreciate, but cherished as we grew and now, with fondness, look back upon.

Alexander Muse's avatar

Thank you for sharing your story.

Susan Daniels's avatar

What an extraordinary story about an extraordinary person. How lucky you were to have a mother like that. Not everyone gets one.

KeKe's avatar

Beautiful. You are one hell of a writer. Your mom was a very beautiful lady and incredible mom. Sort of like mine, except my dad was in the Navy for 21. She passed 21 years ago Dec 26, 2005. Visited with her today and gave her some flowers. She always told me I was an excellent son. She was a better mom. Happy Motherโ€™s Day to all the moms.

George Williams Unsupervised's avatar

Best Motherโ€™s Day post ever.

Donna C's avatar

Beautifully written.

Elizabeth Sexworth's avatar

Well I guess I should say thanks for making me blubber in public while out walking one of my kitties in a stroller. No tissue on hand. Our mothers have some things in common. My mom learned to show horses, took up skydiving and learned to fly, all shortly after she had me. Thatโ€™s just a few of her accomplishments. The idea that our mothers are people, people who had lives completely outside of us before we were born, is something we donโ€™t think about enough. The same goes for my grandmother, who I know even less about than my mother. But she was no less adventurous. In her 70โ€™s she rode in a sidecar with my grandfather as they drove from Michigan to Texas, to start a new life!

S.P.H.'s avatar

Over one thousand miles in a sidecar, now that is love, devotion and determination! God bless your family, Elizabeth.

cducey's avatar

Great article! Like your mother I led an adventurous life before children, which was subordinated to my little ones with no regrets. Family is everything!

Dena's avatar

Beautiful tribute to a wonderful mother & all around accomplished person. I love that 2 churches threw her out for opposing reasons! You were lucky to have her & she you.

Melissa Katz's avatar

Wow! I wish I could have met your beloved M๐Ÿฆ‹M. What a very meaningful and purposeful life she lived and was blessed to share her amazing journey in life for 50 years with your father. Your article made tears stream down my face and brought joy to my heart. God Bless you for sharing such a loving, heartfelt, authentic testimony about your M๐Ÿฆ‹M. You are a great son.๐Ÿ™๐Ÿผโœ๏ธ๐Ÿ•Š๏ธ

Ruth H's avatar

What a beautiful tribute to your mother. She sounds like a woman with a heart of gold, a faith built on the Ten Commandments, and an undying spirit of grace and love. Brought a few tears as I think of my mom and what a wonderful best friend she was to me on top of being a mother always willing to help. Sheโ€™s been gone for 22 years and I cry many nights thinking about how much I miss her.

Cara Wakefield's avatar

Tears in my eyes,which is the finest tribute I could write. To you and your mom. โค๏ธโค๏ธ

Shooter 6's avatar

Wonderful story (and mother.) It comes as no surprise that you, like many of us, had a great mother. Happy Mother's Day Mrs. Muse.