What a wonderful person she was...
what a lovely Angel she is.
What a wonderful lady she was...
what a lovely Spirit she is.
What a wonderful friend she was...
what a lovely Inspiration she is.
What a wonderful confidant she was...
what a lovely Memory she is.
Poem written and © by Dee 1998
This is a page dedicated to my best friend, my Mother
~ Lord rest her soul ~
My mother was born in a house in a small town in southern Indiana, in 1943. There, she grew up with her 2 brothers, and one of two sisters. (one of her sisters passed on at an early age) After my grandma and grandpa's death's, she moved to central Indiana, where she attended Barbering college, and graduated there in 1966. She was a barber all of her life.
While in barbering college, she met a man, that later became my father. Though they never married, my mother decided to keep me. She was a strong lady to do such a thing back then. Times were rough. But she had made a vow to herself, me, and our Lord...that she was going to provide for me, and love me, and give me the best life that she could.
And that she did.
She never seemed to have any enemies. She loved and cared for everyone all in the same. She loved to help everyone, rather it was doing something for them, or just being a friend and listening, or providing a shoulder to cry on. And never expected anything in return.
I remember when I was little, telling her that I wanted to grow up to be just like her. We were so close, and I love her so. She really was someone special to everyone around her. She would let me tell her things most kids wouldn't dream about telling their parents. And she would never get mad. Instead, she would help me work through it.
There are so many memories that I hold close to my heart, that I had with her. I will tell you about some of them, for I cannot tell you all of them or you would be reading a novel right now. *smile* There were many a day when we would be riding in the car, (her taking me to school, and then she would go to work) we would be waiting for "our" song to come on the radio...we would get so excited when it would finally come on. Then we would sit there, and sing it together as loud as we could. The song was "On Top of The World" sang by the Carpenters. (the song playing now) We once dedicated it to each other, and that is when we vowed it to be our song. I think I was only about 5 years old at the time. But I remember it like it was just yesterday.
Mom was a real BIG race fan. We would travel all over to go to sprint and midget races. There would be times that we would camp out at the races, she would sleep on the ground outside of the car...fix the trunk hood so that it would not lock, and let a friend and I sleep in the trunk. We thought that was the coolest thing. She also never missed an Indianapolis 500 race. That was a big must every year. We had so much fun! My uncle was a flag man, I think that is how she developed an interest in racing so much. She, her close friend Diana (my second mom, *smile*), and one of my cousins started wearing jackets one year that said..."The Three Racekateers" . And lets not forget her "H.. Hunky Coach" mallet she had...LOL. (My cousins had made her the mallet as a joke. It had those words, because when ever they were...uuuhhhh..."having too much fun", or "arguing among each other", she would be the one to "set them straight")...LOLOL She also had friends that were race car drivers. I remember one time when we went to Terra Haute to the dirt track...the race was rained out till the next day, so we camped out in our maxi-van (The Hunky Racer). While it was raining, Tom Bigalow "Mouse" came over to our van and was chatting with all of us. My mom asked him what it felt like to drive and ride on a dirt track...well he ended up in the drivers seat and showed us!!!"
Another memory was when Diana had bought a motor bike. She was so proud of this. She had wanted one for years. I do not remember what kind it was, just that it was a small Honda. One day Mom and I went out for a ride. We left in the morning, rode around until lunch, stopped and ate, then got back on and rode around until almost dinner time. That was a really pleasant day. I loved to spend as much time with her as I could. And I know she felt the same as I did. Spending quality time with ones child really goes a long way. And children remember things like that forever.
Another good one... If we were not racing, we were camping. One week the family got together and went camping in northern Indiana. We had such great fun this week. We went swimming, riding horses,... you know, all the fun camping stuff. Well, there was one night when we were all sitting around the camp fire, telling stories and such, and eating smores. (my highlight of the night...CHOCOLATE!!) All the girls went to the rest room before bedtime, when we got back, we were saying our good-nights. Well, one of my cousins said to Mom (while she was squatting, roasting one last marshmellow)..."don't move, don't even breath" in a low, and calm voice. Then he said..."don't Anyone move,...there is a skunk sniffing your butt, Auntie". Needless to say...mom didn't move...she didn't even breath for that matter. Her nerves were shot. She just knew she was "had". But our little friend took his snack, a marshmellow, and went on his merry way. We spoke of that for years (and still do). It was so funny to see her kneeling there, watching a skunk, sniff her fanny.
All of my friends loved her, too. They all used to call her "Mom". She would not have it any other way. If they would call her by her name, she was quick to tell them otherwise. One of my friends has even told me that he loved my mother more than his own, because she was much more understanding about personal problems. Now don't get me wrong...if we screwed up one way or another, she was quick to tell us. And if I did something that I knew was wrong, I would get grounded from the phone.("oh, no, not the PHONE!!!")
She was my Mother most of the time, but was my best friend, the rest.
In the summer of 1982, she wanted to go on vacation for the summer. So that we did. Mom, Diana and I took our maxi-van all over the states west of Indiana. We were gone for 3 weeks. My favorite place that we visited was Lake Tahoe, NV. What a beautiful place. Moms favorite place was Reno, of course :-} We went everywhere. Places like Mt. Rushmore, wine vineyards, caves, Salt Flats, San Fransisco, you name it...I was probably there. This here is the best and last good memory of the fun things she and I would do.
(pictures coming soon)
On October 22, 1982 I came home from school and went to call her at work, as I always did, to let her know that I was home. Only to have one of her work mates tell me that she was not there...she had been rushed to the hospital. They tried to reassure me that everything was okay, but I knew and felt otherwise. A friend had came over to my house, and he rushed me up to the hospital. When I got there, she was in ICU, getting ready to go into surgery. Apparently, she had a ruptured cyst on one of her ovaries. She came through the surgery with flying colors. But the next day we found out that the cyst was cancerous. So then they went back in and did a complete hysterectomy. Only to find that the cancer had spread. She was in the hospital for a month when we discovered that the cancer was spreading so rapidly, that she had to have a colostomy. That seemed to work out fine.
She was finally able to get out of the hospital on Christmas Eve day. We went to Dianas' families' house to spend the day on Christmas. Later that night we had to take her back to the hospital because she started loosing too much blood. They kept her and ran some tests. We found out that the cancer was spreading. She was to start chemo therapy on January 17th. But only made it to January 16th, and passed on to Greater Lands.
There were so many family and friends at her funeral. That is when I realized just how many people love her. I heard quiet a bit of nice things about her. And a lot of funny stories. I consider myself the luckiest "little girl" to have such a wonderful mother. Her memory lives on in every ones heart that she ever came into contact with. She really was a very strong lady, in more ways than one. Most of all was her raising me by herself, with help from family and friends.
Here is a clip from a journal that I wrote to my Mother...
February 18, 1986
Mom,
Although you may not be reading this physically, I have a feeling that you are- one way or another. This is something that I have wanted to do for 3 years now. I am sorry it has taken so long for me to realize that this is what I needed to do. And I am sorry it has taken what it has to finally get me to write this. It's the best thing for me at this time.
Mom...I feel low. Real low. Sometimes I wonder why the hell I am on this lousy earth. Just when things are going great for me, they screw up one way or another.
I am 19 1/2 years old now. And on my own.
This is a time I miss you Mom. A time I wonder why the Lord wanted you so soon. I sometimes feel it's not fair. I was only 16 years old when He called your name. Just in the time of life when any other teenager needs their parents.
I need you here with me right now Mom. So I can talk, and you could listen. But I guess this is the next best thing, huh?
(this is where I speak of a problem I had....then...)
Well Mom, I am going to close for now. I will write more tomorrow. Or I might even write more later on tonight.
I Love You, Mom
Love,
Dee
September 18, 1998
Mom,
I was never able to get you a "Mothers Ring" that you could enjoy, so I have gotten you a "Mom Stone Pin". I hope you like it. *smile* I wanted to pin it here, so everyone would see how much I still love and miss you.
I Love you....MORE
Love,
Dee
Please click here to help me find information on my father.
Would you like to see what other people have to say about my Mother?
click here
How 'bout meeting My favorite Aunt?
Email me and tell me what you think. *S*
This background set is one of my creations. I made this specially for my Mom. Please do NOT take this for your personal use....
NO EXCEPTIONS !!!
© 1998 by D's Fantasia Designs
all rights reserved.
Hits Since 14 Nov '98
|
