Six Years

This day,

six years ago,

I spent the last night

of my Mom's life with her.

Most of the rest of the family

was here, in my home too.

It was good to be together.

I have the funeral of Harmon Killabrew

playing in the background.

A fictitious character died

on a favorite TV show this week.

It's hard not to feel sad.

I relive May 21, 6 years ago often.

The sequence of events play over and over

in my head and on my heart.

All of the days preceding her death,

while she lived with me and I cared for her,

are a non ending tape running

through my mind.

On Mother's Day this year,

I posted the above picture of my Mom on here

as well as on Facebook.

Long time friends wrote

such nice things about my Mom.

Many said she looked like a

movie star. 

I concur.

We lived in a very small town.

The population when I graduated

was around 360 people.

Yet my  Mom, offered a blend

of sophistication

and home spun

hospitality that wasn't

easily duplicated.

I loved her closet.

It was filled with the most gorgeous clothes,

fancy shoes, purses to match and jewelry.

I can still smell her perfume.

She attended a governor's ball

and hosted many political candidates (even presidential

candidates in our home.

More important than all of that though...

she could throw down a hot dish with

wonderful sides and deserts to

entertain a crew of my siblings friends

(many 6 foot plus football players included)

or just to have the neighbors over,

at the drop of a hat.

A few of those "kids"

that were in our home back then,

wrote to say they remembered her kindness.

If any of you are reading this,

know she never forgot YOU either.

Aileen, Judy, to name a few,

I hope you're reading this.

She baked all of our bread

for a long time.

She canned...

pickles galore.

She loved her flowers,

especially bachelor buttons.

She had a wonderful laugh.

I miss that laugh.

Was she perfect?

No.  Of course not.

No one is.

But she loved me.

She was my cheerleader.

I miss her every day.

I'm convinced that the only reason

I have been able to carry on for the

last 6 years is because of my children.

That's why it hurts so much

when I hear of mothers and daughters

fighting or arguing.

I can't say it enough,

forever on earth does not exist. 

We only get one chance to

get this life right.

I don't want anyone

to have any regrets

upon the loss of a loved one.

If I can help just

one person go to someone they care about

and tell them they are forgiven

and that they love them,

my life will have meant something.

Peace,

Jill