ForeverMissed
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Her Life

A Wonderful Woman ~

April 29, 2012

My mother was a great example of what every woman should be.  She was a loving, caring, nurturing, wife, mother and, grandmother.  A very active, strong, giving person. She served in the Navy as a medic.  Volunteered herself to many different foundations. One that I always admired was, teaching people to read. Her life was full, in her own words to me before passing.  She had a hip replacement that did not work out.  The parts they used in her hip were, faulty. She went through a few surgeries, which in your 80's is very hard.  It's hard any time but, it is very as a person grows older.  The anesthesia alone takes it's toll.  She never complained and, had her faith.  She was determined to drive again !!!  She wanted that more than anything.  Poor heart, really tried.  Did not give up !  Three yrs. of faith and hope.  My son who called, her Nanny.  Well, Nanny was the greatest in his eyes.  I will never forget walking into his bedroom to find him decorating his Nanny as if she was a doll !   All decorated up with Mardi Gras hats, beads...She looked great !   We both owe our outlook on life to my mother.  We gained our sense of humor and lots of intelligence,  from my father, who passed prior in 1996.  And, is also deeply missed. Quite a character, in his younger days, a lady named Nell, gave him the nickname "Good Time Charlie." But, all in all...he was a very lonely man. He did a share of tavelling and worked long hours. I will be making a site in his honor once I finish my mothers. I had always thought my music came mostly from my mother.  As I have grow older I found it to be my father, too.  He would listen to Dean Martin, Nat King Cole, Kenny Rogers...the list goes on.  My mother educated me with the classics, folk, christian and, musicals.   She was an artist and, her drawing and painting live in my brother and son.  Her water painted landscapes are wonderful.  Unfortunately, her house caught fire in October after she passed.  And, we lost alot.  Amazingly, I had alot of things packed in my car to bring to my son in Pa.  So, we were able to still have pictures of family and places that we lived.  And, her artwork.   Actually, before we lost her. But, we do have a little bit of a treasure chest to look back at. She also had a love for gardening and dogs.  At one time she rode horses. She often thought her hip and back problems had come from a very bad fall. She was trail riding and came upon a branch, which through her from the horse.  My mother was there for me in times of good and bad.  I went through some serious illnesses and surgeries and, she was always there to listen . And, would tell me to put it all in God's hands.  At three yrs. old she let me know that I was adopted at six wks. old. And, to always believe that I am special. That also takes a very giving and caring person. Although, at times she could get like the mother in the novel. "The Yearling." Mom had some pregnancies that did not go well. That is why they adopted me.  Misfortunes as those, can harden a women at times.  I read the novel to my son as he got older. The song that is playing is called, "Moonlight Sonata."  I was told to practice...practice...practice...and, I didn't...Which is kind of funny, now. I could master and play by memory a song such as this one in a matter of sometimes two lessons.  But, yet she would still say...practice...practice..practice...Well, if only I could have sang and practice...who know's !!!  She encouraged me to play for people. But, I did not like to. If only I would have carried the dignity and grace of my mother, I might have become that pianist that she wanted me to be. From the time I was three yrs. old.  
 A funny story to share and, I did at her service.  Mom, myself and, my Joseph were headed from Pennsylvania to Louisiana to see my father. My mother had to stay with all of us at one point. Anyhow,  we had been driving awhile...mom, grandmother and...one yr old !!!   We stop in Tennessee and, we can not find a room.  All rooms are booked. The man at a hotel desk told my mother.  She precedes to tell me that there is a cigarette and rice festival going on.  Now, I am a NASCAR lover, mom...not sure if she knew what NASCAR was...we even had a NASCAR live nextdoor to us at one point.  Well, I am driving and, I keep seeing all these racecars passing me. I am thinking WoW...!  This is great !  Well, da...cigarette and rice festival~Winston Cup Race. The accent had thrown mom off !  Everytime after that moment that we had rice...well, it usually turned into a great laugh ! Poor mom !  Thing is, today I have an accent and, people sometimes mistake things that I say here in PA.  Mom's gravesite and Dad's is in Lafayette, La.  I will be returning to La. to live certain months out of the yr.  I put a penny in under their urns everytime I go. Dad collected pennies. I tell them a penny for their thoughts. In your head you can still hear the diseased telling you what to do at times or just plain old remembering things.  And, I figure if some poor man steals them all, what the heck !  He needed them !  My mother is truly missed. She was a beautiful woman.  Quite Amazing ~    I plan to place more of her history on this page...and, anyone in the family or friends can do the same...