Saturday, May 11, 2013

Remembering Mama

I have had the privilege of personally celebrating Mother's Day as a mother for 52 years. Yes, my oldest is older than most of you, my friends.   It is a joy to celebrate one's mother - and don't neglect to do it while you still have her.  Mine has been gone for almost 5 years and she was a treasure. She was 92 when she died after a living a beautiful life of love, sacrifice, and service to others. She always brought a ray of sunshine into the lives of those she was around.

I remember as a child growing up in Wilmington, NC that Mom regularly baked biscuits. These were so tender and soft. I really didn't appreciate them back then. They were simply Mom's biscuits. Often just before we ate lunch, she would give me a dish, warm and wrapped in a cloth towel, and say, "Run these down to Aunt Ella's for their lunch." Now Aunt Ella wasn't a family member. She and her husband lived at the other end of the block and were elderly.  You never knocked on the front door back then if your were "friend" or "family;" so I had to go down this narrow, overgrown, alley beside the house to get to the back door.

Aunt Ella met me at the back door with a smile after I had knocked and waited while she slowly made her way to the door. I said, "Mama sent me with these biscuits." And she would thank me. My legs would then take me rushing down the narrow alley and back home to our lunch and my biscuits.
Mama was kind to our neighbors - especially the elderly.

As she aged, Mama never ceased to be kind. I recall in her waning years when she was living in an assisted living facility, she helped those who couldn't recall the way back to their room to traverse the halls correctly. She helped them remember when it was time for a meal and guided them (even when she was using her own walker).  She would take out her mending kit (a cookie tin filled with scissors that had cut many miles of fabric and thread, needles, thread of a variety of colors, and an assortment of snaps, buttons, and eyelets) and repair a resident's sweater or blouse by hand. Her hand stitching was always a beauty to behold.

Yes, I remember Mama and hope that when I am in my waning years, my children will remember "Mama" as sweetly special as I remember my Mama.

15 comments:

  1. How wonderful! I've only been a mother for 19 years....but I've loved every bit of it. Thanks for sharing those beautiful memories.

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    1. Tami - Thank you for reading and for appreciating my little bit about Mama. She was a beautiful person and easily left behind beautiful memories.

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  2. This was so nice to read. Thanks for sharing.

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  3. Just beautiful! You are so blessed. My own mother was mentally ill through out my life she has since passed away. I would love to have the memories you have :)

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    1. Lori - Thank you for your kind comment. My mother was a beautiful lady and always a lady (even though she could work circles around anyone in housework or yardwork - she loved her beautiful yard). Sorry your memories are not fond, but I am sure your mother would want you to be able to remember even the tiniest moment of beauty and sweetness.

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  4. Thank you for sharing Vera!! and Happy Mother's Day!

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    1. Thank you for reading, Karen. Happy Mother's Day to you and to all of Chat With Vera's readers.

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  5. Thank was such a sweet story about your Mama, Vera! Thank you for sharing it with us.

    - Amanda (your fellow "Insiders" friend)

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    1. Thank you for visiting and reading, Amanda. It was a privilege to write something, though short, about Mama.

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  6. What a great read! Mothers are so special! I am going to give mine a massive hug today while I can :) Vera, I also believe one of the reason we have children is to teach us lessons we cant learn any other way - I am so grateful for our connection! Natalie

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    1. So glad you still have your Mother around to give that hug to. Thank you for connecting here on Chat With Vera, Natalie. Visit again real soon!

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  7. How beautiful Vera, Thank you for sharing

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  8. So beautiful Vera, Thank you for sharing.

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  9. More reminiscences from you life, Mrs. Godley, pleez! :)

    With ears perked,

    Diana D.

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