Thanks Mom

Jayne, Brett, Jeanne, Stacey, Shelley, Roark, Ann. (Jayne and I are wearing
 our first store bought Easter dresses.) Probably 1968

Today is mother's day. I have been thinking a lot about my mom lately because of things she is going through with dad. When I was growing up I could never understand  it when girls would complain about their mothers. I couldn't think of a thing wrong with mine. I tried, so I could say something when the other girls were whining, but there was nothing to say. She made us clothes, cooked dinner every night, treated Jayne and me as two separate individuals not as twins, didn't get too mad when we didn't clean our room, (except for the one time when mom got mad at us for being so messy because poor Stacey had share a room with two slobs. Jayne and I then separated all the stuff on the floor into three piles and counted how much was in each pile. Mom was very surprised when each pile had just about the same number of things. But she did apologize. Stacey got her own room in the basement shortly after that.) and was almost too fair with all of us kids (she counted out Easter candy so we all got the same amount of jelly beans in our baskets.) 

Mom with Roark and Jeanne and Jayne, 1956

I am the person I am today because of my mother. She taught us how to do things by letting us do. She let us make cookies, cakes, brownies on our own as soon as we could master the oven and mixer, and was genuinely pleased when we made things as well as she did. She later told me how hard it was to let us get the kudos when she could have received them herself. She taught us how to sew by teaching us the basics, and then use her machine to make our clothes helping us when we asked, but not taking over. I remember I made my Easter dress in junior high out of a bright lavender early 70s print, and just when I was cutting the bottom to make the hem even, I accidentally cut the main fabric of the dress. I was devastated, but mom very matter of factly patched the hole so it was hardly noticeable. 

Ann, Mom,, Roark, Dad and Jayne (sitting)  July 1976

Last month when I was in Mexico I told Kerri my sister-in-law how much I admired her interest in how other people live. She was as interested in the luxurious high rise condos as she was where the handy man, Nacho, lived without electricity, running water or plumbing. And I admired Melanie, my other sister-in-law, who was so determined to snorkel, even though the weather and seas were not conducive to snorkeling. Melanie just laughed and said it was like being in a gigantic blender, water, sand and bits of sea weed swirling madly around her. But she wanted to do it so she did. I was content to sit on the patio and be warm and dry. I wondered if I was the boring one. But Kerri pointed out that my brothers and sisters and I all have the ability to see what needs to be done and figure out how to do it efficiently and quickly. Mom taught us that when we were cleaning the house for company, getting ready to go on vacation, or giving a party. I guess I'm not even aware I do that, it comes so naturally.

So thanks Mom. I love you.