91 Today

That is the age my Mom would be today.
Wow, It is hard to imagine what she would be like. I can not even fathom it.
I think I miss her more than my Dad is because I lost him when I was a child. Children do not realize the full implications of life and death.
Oh I mourned and still think of him often but NEVER him without thinking of her.
They were a constant in my life and when he was gone, she became my constant, my safety, my mentor, my disciplinarian, My Teacher, (and I best learn well).

So as I worked in the garden tonight, (Yes tonight. If you can see the time this is posted, we just came in at 930. Of course we went out at 8, so that was not too bad.)
I thought of her and how much like her, we, her daughters are.
OH we did not want to be like her. Children never want to be like their parents, they are old and out of date.
Parents are an embarrassment, OK come on admit it, We do not fit your ideals as perfect parents. I know I had a parent too.
We are silly, talk during movies, repeat ourselves, can't hear, take life too seriously, or maybe not serious enough, bossy, You name it we are it, Parents. Teeth are falling out, hair is thinning, bones are bending, Age Blessed Age.

MY Mom had a real strong personality, a woman that knew her own mind, a Woman that never would be pushed.
My Mom was always perfectly kept, She bathed and fixed her hair every day. She always wore a dress. My husband told her one day when she was fretting over not looking good.
"Ma, YOU ALWAYS look good I have never seen you with messy clothes on or dirty or hair unkept."
You could see my Mom beam, she thanked him and he said, "Ma I mean it, You keep yourself up:"
I thought of her putting food in bowls to set on the table. Never Never would she set a pan on the table, Why that was just undignified and I bet she thought unsanitary.

She was a woman who faced the world without a man at her side from the age of 38 until she died at the age of 80.
So how are we like her?
Well we do keep ourselves up. Hair, clothes, and homes.

Lou Ellen the oldest sister donates to the elderly that live in a home near her. She bakes for them and they look forward to her goodies each year. Coy dresses as Santa and delivers the goods.

Me, (Sue) I give to the homeless shelter, Every year, throughout the year, and during the holidays, I buy Turkeys and take baskets of food over. Last December I bought 7 blankets for the cold winter.

Rosie, I am not really sure, she has Lupus but I know she has Gospel singers that she feeds. Some are her own children but when groups come through Rosie has an open home.
She is known as one who has spare food and a room to rest in. Southern Gospel singers have to depend on the generosity of locals when going town to town.

Jeanette, She feeds the neighborhood children. Really she is a grandma with 4 grandchildren, Seh is called Grandma by the neighbor hood children.
However she can be just relaxing and a little one will show up at her doorstep and Jeanette will feed them. One even ask for Ham and Macaroni and Cheese.
Jeanette keeps frozen Popsicles for them in the freezer.
There are several neglected and poor children living in their area.

That, is how we are so much like Mama. She would be so proud to know we carry on her spirit of giving. Her spirit of never seeing anyone go hungry.
Look we all feed people. Isn't that amazing. I never thought of it until I just wrote it.
Mama always gave things away. She fed several family members, She took care of her own parents and fed orphans in the church organization. We had applesauce drives.
She gave to our local church all she could.
I can still see her quietly reach into her pocketbook and wad up money to drop in. She Never Never wanted attention brought to herself.
She quietly did everything she could to help people and Thanked God every day for giving her one more day to Take care of her children.