Mothers' Day

First let me start by telling you about the movie Australia.  We watched it the other day and almost turned it off.  The start of the movie is a bit shaky, making you think it's going to be silly,  but if you keep with it it turns out to be really good.  I would say that it is a must see.

Tomorrow is Mothers' Day.  For the past 19 years this has not been a good day for me in several ways.  My mom died almost twenty years ago while I was still living at home and not quite old enough to really appreciate her and all she had done for me, I never had the opportunity to meet my biological mother since she drowned in the early 70's when I was still a toddler, and I have not been fortunate enough to be blessed with children of my own.  These are facts that I usually accept well enough, but there are days like tomorrow that are just painful reminders of these great losses in my life.

My mom was a very loving mother who was always there when I needed her.  Nobody's hug ever felt as comforting as hers.  My mom loved her children and grandchildren like nobody else could.  She was always doing or making things for us whether it be our favorite birthday dinner (mine was roast beef with mashed potatoes and gravy) or an afghan.  She loved to cook and bake, and she always had several crochet projects in progress.  Since I still lived at home when Mom passed away I didn't get any afghans or tablecloths, she made those for my brothers' and their families.  Mom did leave me with this:

A handful of unfinished projects.  There is a baby set and a couple of tablecloths shown here with the photo of a third tablecloth.  The third tablecloth has come up missing and I do my best not to let that eat me up inside.  This is the tablecloth she loved making the most and the one she left was almost finished and would have been perfect for my table.  I can't tell you how many times I have torn my house and attic apart looking for it, but I must not dwell on it anymore.

I have decided that I will spend tomorrow honoring my mom by working on one of her projects; I think it will be the beige tablecloth.  I don't need a special day to think of my mom since she and my dad enter my thoughts every day, but tomorrow I will devote some of the day just to her.  As I crochet I will see her hands as they used to work on these projects.  I will see her long, skinny, bare feet, crossed at the ankle, resting on the recliner stool.  It will be sad; I miss her as much, if not more, than I did when she passed; but it will also be comforting to have her hand work spread across my lap.

Happy Mothers' Day, Mom.

Patricia Gayle Bean  

December 28, 1931 - July 11, 1989