Mothers Day

You don't what you've got 'til she's gone. Last night I visited with my brother and father about Mom. We came to a consensus and appreciation of how lucky we were. We didn't realize we took for granted the wonderful person we had. It's just the way she was. She was a good and strong, stabilizing force. She wasn't a business person or a society person, she was a great wife and mother. She had style, grace and poise. She didn't say anything bad about anyone, and she was real. Mom just didn't like to badmouth or talk behind anyone's back. My brother in law said the worst thing he remembers her saying was "Why that little stinker!"
What a great example she was for all of us growing up. She taught us how to be good people. She gave to us all, but she wasn't a doormat. She was always there for us especially when we were in a jam. She'd help us out when we were in big trouble. She's stand by us. And with Dad, she would buffer the consequences of whatever punishment we were to receive.
Mom was born and grew up on a ranch in Blanco, Texas to German parents. She was proud to be a full blooded German. She told us how during the depression, her father had fed the people in the town who were hungry from the food grown on their ranch. "He was a good man," she told us.
Mom had five older brothers and lost a week old sister before she was born. Her older sister died mysteriously after childbirth. She had a lot of loss as I look back. Mom lost her own mother at fifteen. How she grew up to be a lady with such grace and poise with all those men I'll never know. She was the apple of her father's eye.
Mom loved her horse named Paint and she rode him to school each day. It was a one room schoolhouse with grades one through twelve. She probably already knew everything she needed. Mom knew how to pick cotton, embroidery, garden and loved animals. She loved their baby lambs and had a pet squirrel. She told us her brothers' friend shot her pet squirrel in their orchard and her brothers "skinned it, cooked it and ate it in front of me."
Mom had her own ideas about life and would tell us to "stick to your guns" (my childhood version of Hold Your Space) She must have learned how to be strong with five big bruiser older brothers. She was true to herself, and taught us by example. I love her and I miss her.
I honor her with all my heart, today and always. Happy Mothers Day my sweet and beautiful Mom.