Mumma Dear
Recently I wrote about my father, my daddy. Lately, my mom has been on my mind.
I called her Mumma Dear. Yeah, I called her Mom too, and when we worked together, I even called her Marie, but when it was just her and I, she was Mumma Dear.
If I turn out to be half the person my mother was, I will be a happy woman. She was the kindest, most loving individual I have ever met. She really loved people, treated them with respect, and in return was well respected. She loved people that didn't deserve it, she supported her friends with every ounce of her being and she sacrificed everything for anyone who resided in her heart. She was the bravest woman I have known.
She was my best friend, and while she has been gone almost 7 years, there are still moments every day that I want to call her. She always knew just what to say. She always knew the trivial answers to every day questions, and while she was a teetotaler, she knew her booze. You didn't want to go against her in Trivial Pursuit. She'd smoke ya every time.
She lived with poise and grace. I am still absolutely amazed at how she held her head high in face of adverse events. She was a strong woman with an infant and a 6 year old when my father was very seriously injured in the line of duty as a police officer. She did what needed to be done, she held us all together. She held her head high through 2 battles with cancer, always with a smile. That brilliant smile.
At http://www.alpena.cc.mi.us/facets/Issues/2004/NonFictioin/wieske_mother.htm you can read about her last moments, but keep in mind, she was so much more than this. She lived with her disease. She wasn't dying of ovarian cancer, she was living with it. Amazing lady!
There wasn't anything my mom couldn't do. One year at Thanksgiving all the guys were out hunting and a storm came through and wiped out all the power. Mom, ever the inventive one, took the turkey out to the barn and sparked up the barbecue and finished it there; started the propane in the travel trailer to finish the green bean casserole and potatoes. When the guys got back they were absolutely astonished that dinner with all the trimmings was ready. I wasn't surprised, that was just who my mom was.
While she wouldn't have said shit if she had a mouth full (one of my dad's pet phrases) she didn't take any guff either. I remember once that a customer at the car dealership where we both worked was being rather foul mouthed and belligerent with my mom about something that was absolutely not her fault, and not under her control. She held her head proudly and let him vent, but when the f bomb came flying out she adamantly stated, "Mr Bazanna, you do not have the right to use that language around me." He was shocked, flustered, and embarrassed. He apologized profusely, cleaned up his act, and a few days later returned with flowers for this classy lady. Pretty cool.
She could cook like nobodys business. She loved her husband and her kids with all her might. We ALWAYS came first. I would give just about anything to spend just 10 minutes with her drinking tea and laughing. I realize now that I have spent 1/5 of my life with out her. How have I managed, how have I survived? Here's how... she raised me right. She taught me what I needed to know, how to act, and how to treat people. It wasn't formal lessons, not intentional, but by just being the person she was, I learned how to be a woman. I hope she knows I am trying to live up to her standard.
For those of you that knew my Mumma Dear, you know what I say doesn't even scratch the surface. For those of you that never had the honor to be in her world, I wish you all your own Mumma Dear. Someone, be it your biological mother, an aunt or just a family friend; I hope you all will think back fondly on some female presence in your life that showed you how to live with grace. I know she made me who I am. I'm trying Mumma Dear. I hope one day you can be proud of who I become.
I called her Mumma Dear. Yeah, I called her Mom too, and when we worked together, I even called her Marie, but when it was just her and I, she was Mumma Dear.
If I turn out to be half the person my mother was, I will be a happy woman. She was the kindest, most loving individual I have ever met. She really loved people, treated them with respect, and in return was well respected. She loved people that didn't deserve it, she supported her friends with every ounce of her being and she sacrificed everything for anyone who resided in her heart. She was the bravest woman I have known.
She was my best friend, and while she has been gone almost 7 years, there are still moments every day that I want to call her. She always knew just what to say. She always knew the trivial answers to every day questions, and while she was a teetotaler, she knew her booze. You didn't want to go against her in Trivial Pursuit. She'd smoke ya every time.
She lived with poise and grace. I am still absolutely amazed at how she held her head high in face of adverse events. She was a strong woman with an infant and a 6 year old when my father was very seriously injured in the line of duty as a police officer. She did what needed to be done, she held us all together. She held her head high through 2 battles with cancer, always with a smile. That brilliant smile.
At http://www.alpena.cc.mi.us/facets/Issues/2004/NonFictioin/wieske_mother.htm you can read about her last moments, but keep in mind, she was so much more than this. She lived with her disease. She wasn't dying of ovarian cancer, she was living with it. Amazing lady!
There wasn't anything my mom couldn't do. One year at Thanksgiving all the guys were out hunting and a storm came through and wiped out all the power. Mom, ever the inventive one, took the turkey out to the barn and sparked up the barbecue and finished it there; started the propane in the travel trailer to finish the green bean casserole and potatoes. When the guys got back they were absolutely astonished that dinner with all the trimmings was ready. I wasn't surprised, that was just who my mom was.
While she wouldn't have said shit if she had a mouth full (one of my dad's pet phrases) she didn't take any guff either. I remember once that a customer at the car dealership where we both worked was being rather foul mouthed and belligerent with my mom about something that was absolutely not her fault, and not under her control. She held her head proudly and let him vent, but when the f bomb came flying out she adamantly stated, "Mr Bazanna, you do not have the right to use that language around me." He was shocked, flustered, and embarrassed. He apologized profusely, cleaned up his act, and a few days later returned with flowers for this classy lady. Pretty cool.
She could cook like nobodys business. She loved her husband and her kids with all her might. We ALWAYS came first. I would give just about anything to spend just 10 minutes with her drinking tea and laughing. I realize now that I have spent 1/5 of my life with out her. How have I managed, how have I survived? Here's how... she raised me right. She taught me what I needed to know, how to act, and how to treat people. It wasn't formal lessons, not intentional, but by just being the person she was, I learned how to be a woman. I hope she knows I am trying to live up to her standard.
For those of you that knew my Mumma Dear, you know what I say doesn't even scratch the surface. For those of you that never had the honor to be in her world, I wish you all your own Mumma Dear. Someone, be it your biological mother, an aunt or just a family friend; I hope you all will think back fondly on some female presence in your life that showed you how to live with grace. I know she made me who I am. I'm trying Mumma Dear. I hope one day you can be proud of who I become.
posted by Angela | 03:56
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