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.
Wow! I wish I could have met your beloved Mš¦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 Mš¦M. You are a great son.šš¼āļøšļø
What an awesome tribute to your Mother!! Great writing, as I have become accustomed to in reading your work on Substack!! šŗšøšŗšøšŗšøšŗšø
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.
Wow! I wish I could have met your beloved Mš¦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 Mš¦M. You are a great son.šš¼āļøšļø
Tearful as I remember and wish I had been a better son.
What a magnificent life your mother lived. She was clearly a very special person. Happy Motherās Day!
What an awesome tribute to your Mother!! Great writing, as I have become accustomed to in reading your work on Substack!! šŗšøšŗšøšŗšøšŗšø