As I remember my mother, she was the first love of my life! As a child, seeing that pretty little face with a smile on it, she was the prettiest mother in the world, for sure! Coming home from school, I would regularly bring her flowers and give her Valentines on Valentine’s Day ands all my school projects were made for her. Looking back, our parents did a wonderful job of protecting and nurturing our innocence and curiosity as a children all the while letting Richard and I know that we were dearly loved.
Growing up, we leaned on mom’s inescapable knowledge and wisdom from all the books she has read. She would help us with homework and always seemed ready and waiting in her chair at night for the opportunity to listen to our adventures and to offer sound advice, if needed. You would definitely want to pick the bookworm (Bonnie) in a game of Trivial Pursuit or any other game of knowledge or trivia. You were certainly going to win with her as an unfair advantage on your team! As an adult, mom and I shared an interest in birds and a love for cats. We are indeed cat people, and we both learned to speak fluent Catonese.
I can say this about my mother and father: they were truly the best parents in the world for Richard and I. We were given a strong foundation of a mother and father that have an unbreakable love for each other, and in turn, loved us the same. We were taught basic values about how to love and treat each other and how to treat our fellow man, but at the same time, we were encouraged (with a long leash) to have our own interests, hobbies and beliefs. Our parents are the perfect model, protector, and provider for us. And, as my parents like to say, “We have raised the two best son’s in the world.” I would have to agree! Your little family turned our rather well! Thank you, mother, and thank you, father, for raising Richard and I to be the men and sons we are today!
As I say goodbye today, and as you enter the sweet embrace of your parents and loved ones that preceded you, I look forward to seeing your pretty little face once again at my heavenly homecoming! After our sweet embrace, you can show me around some…we’ll have all eternity for that!