Mom passed away one year ago today; January 30, 2013, at1:22 pm. Her battle with cancer was over and she could be at peace, but I have to confess, though I was happy that she didn’t have to linger on in her suffering, it was nonetheless the worst day of my life.
I think I spent the first six months, after she died, regretting every cross word I ever said to her, but then I started to recall cute memories of things she had done throughout the years.
Here are a few that come to mind:
A Naughty Night
Not long after my dad passed away, mom was spending the night with us at our apartment. It was evening and raining cats and dogs outside. Mom got it in her head that she really wanted to see the old movie “Naughty Marietta” starring Jeanette McDonald. I called the video rental store and they had a copy of the movie, so we drove across town, in the pouring rain, to go pick it up. Unfortunately, we drove to the wrong store. They were nice enough to call and find out which of their stores had the copy of the movie..
We finally got home and I was fit to be tied having to drive out in the nasty weather for some old movie. I put the video in the VCR, mom situated herself in front of the TV and she was good to go. I went to the kitchen to make some coffee and when I came out mom was sound asleep. I couldn't belive it, but I couldn’t get mad at her; she had just lost dad, and that was probably the best sleep she’d had for a while.
A Bunny Tale
Four months after dad passed away we moved to the house that we’ve lived in for almost twenty-six years now. Mom sold her home and moved in with us at the same time that we moved in.
We had lived here approximately a year when my mom decided that she wanted a pet rabbit. I told her NO! I explained that I did not know how to take care of a rabbit. End of conversation; until two days later when she came home with a little surprise.
She arrived home late from work and went up to her room and closed the door. All of sudden, I heard a lot of commotion, and then my mom started calling for me. I went upstairs and knocked on her door, and she said, with a voice of panic from the other side of the door; “Now don’t get mad! I bought a rabbit, are you mad?” She opened the door and I could see that the rabbit was running around the room (He was scared) and mom couldn’t catch him. It was a sight!
As I gave the bunny a little time to calm down, I asked mom what she planned to do with the rabbit. Her plan was to keep it in a laundry basket; that was her whole plan. Well, as it tuned out, the bunny ended up being one of the sweetest pets we’ve ever had. We named him “Precious” and bought him a mate, and they had a few litters. It was a fun experience, but one that I don’t recommend for every household.
Mom made life interesting; you never knew what to expect. She was kind of like living in an “I Love Lucy” episode, except it was real life. The things mom did that annoyed the heck out of me when she was alive have become the memories that I will hold dear for all my life, now that she is gone.
On this first anniversary of mom’s passing we’re going to eat some of her favorite foods; all beef hot dogs and fries from DW, and lemon meringue pie. We’ll play gin, and in place of going to her niche at the mausoleum, we’re going to plant a flower (At 1:22 pm) in mom’s own flower bed in our front yard. I want January 30th to be a day to remember the life that mom lived, not her death. Mom would much rather be celebrated than to be mourned.