Memories of my Mom and me

I always loved Jim Croce and I've shared these words from his song many times, "Photographs and memories, all the love you gave to me, somehow it just can't be true, that's all I've left of you." What do you do on Mother's Day when your Mom is no longer here? Besides shedding a few tears, I like to look at photographs and remember the good times ("memories that take me back to another time back to a happier day").

When I looked at my pictures, I was regretting that there weren't more of just my Mom and me in our last years together.  As we get older, I guess we stopped posing with just each other, a regret, but we do have group photos with both of us.

However, I did come across many of Mom and me when we were younger. It dawned on me as I was looking at these, that one of the benefits of being an only child is I didn't have to share her with another sibling. She was all mine. I am laying these memories here as I celebrate my precious memories of Mom and me on this Mother's Day, my fifth one without her in person, but her love has never left. The pictures are not necessarily in chronological order, but close.

As you can see, I was doomed with a weight problem from the start!

Uncle Joe, (Dad's brother) and my cousin, Carol.

Mom was a great lover of animals.

Too big for Mom's lap? No. 

Easter

Thanksgiving when Uncle Jack, Mom's brother, lived with us.

A very happy time.

Vacation at a cabin by a lake. More good times.

This was on the same vacation, playing cards of course. We always enjoyed playing all kinds of games.

Easter

Christmas--Lamb Chop, Hush Puppy & Charlie Horse

With our dog, Buttons.

With Grandma Casey (Dad's Mom)

Jump forward a number of years......

And a few more years....

 With Aunt Helen

 With Grandpa Casey

 With Grandma Casey

With Aunt Helen

Wonderful Cape memories that we all cherish. 

Her beloved Bambi

 Her beanie collection.

At her Happy Place and the comforting thought is that this is pale in comparison to Heaven. For now, I have photographs and memories and I am thankful for those wonderful memories we made. 

Mother's Day--Just another day

I have seen a lot of posts lately about Mother's Day and the pain of those who were unable to have children. With all the publicity of Mother's Day, it is like adding salt into a wound. I never thought of that before. Then there are also those who are estranged from their children. How painful that must be too.

One article asked pastors not to ask mothers to stand up to be honored in church on Mother's Day as it made those who could not be mothers, feel worse. I have an idea for pastors, how about have everyone stand up who had a mother?

That is what Mother's Day is about for me. Although I have two kids who I love and cherish, my focus is on my Mom on this day. Mother's Day was the last time I saw my Mom before she went into the hospital a few days later. She wasn't feeling well and asked that just George and I come and to make it a short visit. If I had known...

But that was how it was with Mom. Mother's Day is just another day. Holidays are just a day. She felt too much emphasis is put on holidays and it just makes it harder for those without family. She felt empathy for those alone. She lost her mother when she was in her early 20's around Christmas. She remembered Christmas carols being played on the streets as they drove to the funeral. That tainted her feelings about Christmas and I never really thought about how much pain she was in all those Christmases we shared.

I don't want to seem callous, but I feel those posts about not being a parent are part of the "all about me" syndrome. I am sorry and I know you are hurting, but how about focusing on your Mom? Change the focus. All the Mother's Day ads hurt  me too as I cannot hug my Mom or see her. Many people are hurting for different reasons and I appreciate knowing that.

I will remember my Mom with some tears and thankfulness but you know what? I just don't do that on Mother's Day. It's just another day to remember and I think of her everyday because each day is "just another day".

Mother's Day 2014 Stanley Park, Westfield, MA

Beautiful day for a walk in the park. This is Stanley Park, serenaded by a piano in the tower. We were able to go inside the tower where we were treated with lemonade and cookies and a carnation for mothers. We enjoyed the beautiful view from the top.

USA Map as seen from the tower.

Stain glass windows in the tower.