Mother's day

This is my setting as I sit to compose this entry.  The wine is a pinot noir from Trader Joe's, named Petit Reserve from the central coast, 2009, and it is very good.  I just finished a fresh trout dinner with sauteed asparagus tips and corn on the cob.  And the happenings of mother's day finally became clear to me, so here goes.

This photo, though flawed with a scratch, is the only one I have with me of my mom, Mary Emily Propest Racey.  I had tried to avoid thinking about mother's day, as I got so sad when I did.  But good ole Jubilee!, as usual, wouldn't let me off that easy.  During the service, Melodie Meadows read a gift of prose entitled "Conversations With My Mother."  She lost hers in January of this year and I was totally moved by her courage and composure as she read her wonderful writing. One line in particular resonated with me: "Love, not life, is eternal."   It was then that I realized where I was, in Asheville, the birth place and final resting place of my mom, and I knew I had to get some flowers and visit her grave after the service. It had been a long time since I'd taken flowers and momma loved her flowers.

When I got to the cemetery, I read all the family markers and thought that it had probably been a while since anyone had been there, especially to leave flowers on my mom's mother's grave.  Yes, I know, I could have said "grandmother", but that would not have been technically correct, as she was really my great grandmother.  I'll leave that to my children to explain to my grandchildren and maybe for another writing here.  So I divided the flowers and that felt so peaceful.  "Granny" lived with me and mom from 1960 until she passed away in 1965.  Three people in a trailer 8X26 with a 10X10 bedroom for granny was still more than a little snug.  Yet somehow we made it.  Momma was the nearest person to a saint I've ever known. On her marker I had inscribed "She lived to give", because she did.  God rest her sweet soul.

Barbara Sierra, sister

When I got home there were two people I wanted to call and wish them happy mother's day:  sister Barbara and daughter Barbara.  Why?  Because they are the finest mothers I have ever known!  And for sister Barb, she is far and away the best grandmother I have ever witnessed.  Her grandson, Jason, is the budding baseball star and they are two of the main reasons I have chosen to winter there in Sarasota.  She is an excellent mother, too, for her daughter, Jennifer.

Barbara Crowder, daughter, and son Derick

Then I called daughter Barbara so I could wish her a happy mother's day and said that I hoped her children appreciated what a wonderful mother they have!  She said she thought they did.  She is truly the best mother I have ever known.  She is compassionate, empathetic, disciplined and oh so loving.  She sparkles and shines with her young men!  And the results are clear in their behavior.  God bless you, Barbara!  and your kids and fine hubby!

My other mother, Betty Jean, brought me into this world and for that I'm grateful.  I'm also grateful that she gave me to Emily when I was but a few months old.  That was a "win-win-win" if there ever was one.  There are some other mothers out there I would like to mention, but this is not the time or place, if ever.  But you know who you are and God bless you, too.