This is one of the few photos I have of Mom at her own birthday celebration...her 60th. She is standing with her first three grand-children - there would be 4 more that she wouldn't meet. And as you can see, she was a proud Gran. Now the little boy has 4 - almost 5 - kids of his own and the younger girl has two. She would have been an even prouder great-Gran.
When I was growing up, Mom and I had the typical mother-daughter relationship: ups and downs. Sometimes, the downs were very low, indeed. But as I matured and she mellowed, we came to understand each other better. There was nothing Mom liked better than a natter and since we didn't live close to each other, a natter was the first order of business when we came to visit. My Mom liked to read, she loved to learn new things and I know she enjoyed a challenge. Her drawing skills always made me jealous. And she always had a great sense of style - even if I didn't think so with my youthful style-consciousness.. She had a wicked sense of humor and, even when younger, tended to be a tad absent-minded. She was shy and didn't really do parties or big social gatherings happily. I think Mom would have made a good interior designer. I have lots of memories of her (frequently) changing the furniture arrangement, re-painting furniture or cupboards or poring over magazines and library books for ideas. She sewed all our clothes when we were kids; was a great knitter and baked the best oatmeal bread in the world.
Her most memorable advice to me? If I was feeling down it was time for a new hat!
Happy Birthday, Mom!
3 comments:
love. love. love. this post and photos, Stephanie. I am sure I would have enjoyed knowing your mom. blessings ~ tanna
lovely tribute to your mom.
Love these older photos! My dad would have been 109 today.
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