04/03/2023
We lost you one week ago. My heart is still selfishly broken, even though I rejoice that you are in a place with the most perfect beauty, sound, joy, and love that could ever be imagined. Almost half-a century ago, you held me while I drew my first breath. And, I feel blessed that Dad and I held you as you drew your last.
A tribute to you, an incredibly strong and loving human:
You had the Jane Fonda Workout on LP!! You listened to that record and alongside did the workout every day. Imagine once you had a VCR/VHS!!! You had every Shape, Denise Austin, Buns o’ Steel, and Yoga tape that existed. And, you did one every day. THANK YOU FOR TEACHING ME THE IMPORTANCE OF FITNESS.
You made “from scratch,” whole food, lean & green meals every single day. (and we ate as a family) No Hamburger Helper….No Lucky Charms…ever!! My school lunch every day had a deli sandwich with green leaf lettuce, sliced tomato on whole grain bread. I envied my lunch neighbor with Jif+Jelly on Wonderbread. I complained then (and ate a LOT of Hamburger Helper and Lucky Charms freshman year at Tech), but for all of my adult life I have gratitude for the effort you put into your family’s nutrition. THANK YOU FOR TEACHING ME THE IMPORTANCE OF EATING RIGHT.
You were very strict and delivered tough love. I complained then, and for all of my adult life I thank you because I WAS THE KID WHO TRULY NEEDED IT!
I’ll never forget the way you fell completely in love with Sammie and Oscar from the moment you laid eyes on them. And, of course the spoilage to come…
You didn’t get a lot of thanks for working so hard to care for our family, and our home. But, if there had been a nationwide judged competition for Mom and Homemaker, you would have won the gold by a mile.
While I’ve always tried not to cry too often, any time there were tears, whether fear, heartbreak, unfairness, sick, devastation, joy, elation, celebration, you were always the first person I called….no matter what.
And you had an EXCELLENT picker. So, you gave us the gold-medal-winning dad. And, I get to have Pop as a father. I love you, Mom. You’re forever in my heart.