I have an awesome mother-in-law.
She hates it when I send her serious cards in the mail and prefers funny ones so it doesn’t make her sad. She’ll be happy to know that I didn’t send a serious Mother’s Day Card. But then, I didn’t send a funny one either (more on that later). I knew I wanted to write a post in her honor today. She has been like a mother to me, especially after my own mother passed away in 1991. I remember being so comforted by her tight squeeze as she mourned with me that evening. So, at the risk of making her mad at me for being serious, I continue. I’ll try to interject some humor to lighten it up a bit for her.
I have known her for 34 years and she has always been loving and kind to me; even when her only son and I moved her grandchildren 1200 miles away. And even when she couldn’t smoke in our house after she traveled 1200 miles to visit us. I can be a big pain in the rear when it comes to cigarette smoke. But she always made the best of it and never complained. I don’t feel too guilty about it because I think she has enjoyed sitting outside alone with Hubby making up for lost time as they shared ashtrays, lighters and countless cigarettes. On the other hand, the Louisiana and Texas summers and mosquitoes make it pretty miserable sometimes to sit outside for any length of time.
On our first official date, the car my future husband was driving had a flat tire. Really! I’m not kidding! It was one of many car problems he encountered while we were dating and for which he blames me (he claims he had no car problems before meeting me). Anyway, he ended up calling his sister to come and take us to get the tire fixed because the spare was flat, too. After that, he dropped his sister off and took me home. Keep in mind that we were at three far ends of the county so all this took a while. There was no time left to do anything else! That was the first time I met his sister, Brenda. I don’t remember when I first met his sister, Janet, but I remember when I met his mother. He either forgot to mention to her that we would be coming by or he didn’t think it was a big deal to drop in unannounced. She was in her nightgown. She handled it with dignity and made me feel very comfortable and welcomed.
She’s a strong and brave woman who has been through many tragedies in her lifetime. Her father drowned leaving behind eleven children. She has also lost her husband and her daughter, Janet, to cancer (Missy, my thoughts are with you today). Although I never met her first husband, Albert, she sat down with me early in my marriage and shared photos and memories about him. He died of cancer in 1963, when my hubby was seven years old. He had been sick for a very long time. As she shared her memories I was drawn into her past and felt so much closer to her. I really appreciated that she did that, even though it was probably painful for her. Her second husband, Russell (or Tever, as we call him) is a dear man who has been like a father to my husband. He often jokes around with me and I smile when I think of him. Although I know he gets cranky with her, it’s evident that he loves my mother-in-law very much. Last year, she also lost a granddaughter, Brenda’s youngest daughter, Tracie. I know this may be a hard day for both of them, so please keep them in your prayers.
Jean, back to the fact that you didn’t receive a card from us; sad, funny or otherwise, As your son, my husband and I ate dinner yesterday evening he mentioned that he didn’t get me a mother’s day card and that we could pick up my sander (my present) later that evening. I said, “That’s okay, I’m not your mother. You should be more worried that you didn’t send her one.” The discussion turned toward co-dependency stuff (by the way, I didn’t nag him to take care of his speeding ticket either and he almost got arrested. Not really, but he didn’t show up for court and had to rush down the next day to take care of it). Anyway, back to the dinner conversation. We are going to buy a plane ticket for you to come to Texas next month as a Mother’s Day gift. We hope you can use it. Please let us know a convenient date to come for a couple of weeks. Kirk said the flower beds look great so as you sweat in the heat, you can at least look at pretty flowers. We both wish you a wonderful and blessed Mother’s Day and we will call you later from Daughter #2’s house. We love and miss you!
She hates it when I send her serious cards in the mail and prefers funny ones so it doesn’t make her sad. She’ll be happy to know that I didn’t send a serious Mother’s Day Card. But then, I didn’t send a funny one either (more on that later). I knew I wanted to write a post in her honor today. She has been like a mother to me, especially after my own mother passed away in 1991. I remember being so comforted by her tight squeeze as she mourned with me that evening. So, at the risk of making her mad at me for being serious, I continue. I’ll try to interject some humor to lighten it up a bit for her.
I have known her for 34 years and she has always been loving and kind to me; even when her only son and I moved her grandchildren 1200 miles away. And even when she couldn’t smoke in our house after she traveled 1200 miles to visit us. I can be a big pain in the rear when it comes to cigarette smoke. But she always made the best of it and never complained. I don’t feel too guilty about it because I think she has enjoyed sitting outside alone with Hubby making up for lost time as they shared ashtrays, lighters and countless cigarettes. On the other hand, the Louisiana and Texas summers and mosquitoes make it pretty miserable sometimes to sit outside for any length of time.
On our first official date, the car my future husband was driving had a flat tire. Really! I’m not kidding! It was one of many car problems he encountered while we were dating and for which he blames me (he claims he had no car problems before meeting me). Anyway, he ended up calling his sister to come and take us to get the tire fixed because the spare was flat, too. After that, he dropped his sister off and took me home. Keep in mind that we were at three far ends of the county so all this took a while. There was no time left to do anything else! That was the first time I met his sister, Brenda. I don’t remember when I first met his sister, Janet, but I remember when I met his mother. He either forgot to mention to her that we would be coming by or he didn’t think it was a big deal to drop in unannounced. She was in her nightgown. She handled it with dignity and made me feel very comfortable and welcomed.
She’s a strong and brave woman who has been through many tragedies in her lifetime. Her father drowned leaving behind eleven children. She has also lost her husband and her daughter, Janet, to cancer (Missy, my thoughts are with you today). Although I never met her first husband, Albert, she sat down with me early in my marriage and shared photos and memories about him. He died of cancer in 1963, when my hubby was seven years old. He had been sick for a very long time. As she shared her memories I was drawn into her past and felt so much closer to her. I really appreciated that she did that, even though it was probably painful for her. Her second husband, Russell (or Tever, as we call him) is a dear man who has been like a father to my husband. He often jokes around with me and I smile when I think of him. Although I know he gets cranky with her, it’s evident that he loves my mother-in-law very much. Last year, she also lost a granddaughter, Brenda’s youngest daughter, Tracie. I know this may be a hard day for both of them, so please keep them in your prayers.
Jean, back to the fact that you didn’t receive a card from us; sad, funny or otherwise, As your son, my husband and I ate dinner yesterday evening he mentioned that he didn’t get me a mother’s day card and that we could pick up my sander (my present) later that evening. I said, “That’s okay, I’m not your mother. You should be more worried that you didn’t send her one.” The discussion turned toward co-dependency stuff (by the way, I didn’t nag him to take care of his speeding ticket either and he almost got arrested. Not really, but he didn’t show up for court and had to rush down the next day to take care of it). Anyway, back to the dinner conversation. We are going to buy a plane ticket for you to come to Texas next month as a Mother’s Day gift. We hope you can use it. Please let us know a convenient date to come for a couple of weeks. Kirk said the flower beds look great so as you sweat in the heat, you can at least look at pretty flowers. We both wish you a wonderful and blessed Mother’s Day and we will call you later from Daughter #2’s house. We love and miss you!
3 comments:
Happy mother's day to all of the mothers I know especially to my own mother whom I love very, very much! She's my best friend and my confidant, she's taught me to be the person I am. I don't know a more compassionate person. I love you Mom! Happy Mother's Day!
Grandma,
Hope you can come to Texas soon. Happy Mother's Day to you and thank you for my dad- he's awesome too!
I just realize that I wrote about Hubby missing his court date for his speeding ticket right after I discribed talking to him about co-dependency stuff. Just in case someone gets the wrong idea, let me clarify. He didn't miss his court date because he's an alcoholic, he's not. He just got the court date mixed up. We both get easily confused these days. Also, he actually could have been arrested if he hadn't rushed down to take care of his ticket (clerk's words, not mine). And by rushed down, I didn't mean that he sped. But, he might have. I doubt he's been cured of that! LOL
How did a blog about mother's day turn into a drunken speed freak almost getting arrested? Glad you didn't mention that I had the kids in the car when I got pulled over. That would really make me look bad!
Your right, we both get easily confused these days. I wonder if 3 grandkids has anything to do with it? Anyway, we do depend on each other (now more then ever) so if that's co-dependent then so be it. You can be my co-baby any day!
Anyway, Happy Mother's day mom. Hope you had a good day. Hope we didn't keep you phone to long.
And Happy Mother's day to all the other moms out there that happens see this.
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