I have a card. I'm always on the look out for a perfect birthday card which I carefully tuck in my "card drawer." I bought this one months before her 79th birthday. Unfortunately I didn't get to share that one with her and now it remains in my drawer since I can't quite part with it either.
Mom's passing meant that I and my sisters were officially "orphans." Now being orphaned at 46 doesn't seem like anything out of the course of nature and certainly I'm a very lucky gal. I have two amazing sisters who are not only my sisters but some of my best friends. I am blessed (most of the time) with an extended family, aunts especially, who occasionally check in on "us girls".
Mom was Irish. Being Irish is living life loudly - we've laughed till we cried, verbally sparred ourselves hoarse, told and retold many a family tale. I wouldn't have it any other way and I miss being able to share it with mom.
For the second anniversary of mom's passing, my sisters and oldest niece and I celebrated her life by combining most all the things she loved to do best (traveling, quilting, being with family, sharing stories and laughs) into one grand adventure by going on a quilting cruise to Alaska. I truly felt her presence. I know she would have loved it!
As a promotion for the event, one of the sponsors was having an essay contest to write about the creative woman who inspired us to become a quilter. The prize was a free cruise for two on this quilting cruise and since we're always looking for a deal, it wasn't surprising that both my sister and I entered the contest by writing about mom. I shared my entry with Dona then (had to make sure we were keeping our stories straight!) and in honor of her birthday, I share with you today this excerpt from mine:
- “Mom used the sewing bench to teach me most of life’s lessons: keep busy; learn new things; whatever you do in life, take your time to do it really well; fix mistakes right away so they don’t become huge or irreparable; take care of each other.”
Mom continued to be my greatest cheerleader and occasional seam-ripper until she passed away in September 2003. During that time she imparted life lessons all the while trying to get me to sew an accurate 1/4" seam. I hope she knew I "got it" - both the sewing skills and the life lessons. I've tried to share her words of wisdom ala Forrest Gump with each of my children ("it takes three times as long to do it the wrong way as to do it the right way in the first place, so try to get it right the first time!").
Thanks mom - for the lessons, for the laughs, for passing on your fabric obsession to me and my sisters (okay that last one was really from each of our husbands and I'm not entirely certain that line wasn't delivered with a healthy dollop of sarcasm!)
Happy Birthday, Mom.
Love, Terri
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