We spent Mother's Day weekend
with our darling 94 year old Mom
All 7 of her Daughters were with her
and a niece or two
our Mother's 94 year old brain is a little tired.
She kept wondering where Dad was,
and he's been gone for 12 years now
she wanders some nights -
doesn't always know where she is
and she asked me who I was - twice this last visit
my sisters and I travel to see her more often, now
and the visits are bittersweet
At 94 (and 1/2) I think I'd be a little confused, too.
But she remains to us the most amazing woman
we have ever known.
Married at 16 - she had 9 children - 2 boys and 7 girls
Seven of them by age 30
(about the same age I was having my first and only)
All but 3 of her 9 children were born at home
She made their clothing
Put their hair in pincurls
and sometimes administered home perms
She entered her beautiful needlework in the County Fair
Baked her own bread
canned her own fruit and vegetables
made delicious jams
and amazing pies
and occasionally shot a pheasant from the back porch
and occasionally shot a pheasant from the back porch
In the early years, she did it without dishwasher,
washing machine or dryer
and no refrigerator
I wasn't part of that early family
I'm child #8
by the time I was born Daddy was building our new house
with all the modern conveniences
but she still canned, baked and sewed
and travelled
... and taught school
She's my hero and my role model
Everyday I strive to be more like her
We love you, Mom - you are amazing
See you soon!
