Today being Mother's Day I thought I would share something about my Mom.

I grew up in a large family, the oldest of seven kids. My first memory of Mom was her continuously saying as we ran around the living room: "Sacred heart of Jesus preserve me."  In recent years I have often said to friends:  "I am not saying my Mom is spiritual, but up until I was about 5 I thought my name was -Sacred Heart of Jesus please preserve me."

Sometimes I would lose track of time and arrive home late for dinner.  One such time I arrived home covered from head to toe in dirt having been playing on a building site.
I was banished to my room without food.  My mother waited about two hours until the coast was clear, and brought food into my darkened room.

A couple of years ago she told me when she was engaged to my Dad, someone sent him a letter trying to dissuade him from marrying her.  That person asked my father to look into the circumstances of her mother's death.  My grandmother died when my Mom was 3.  I remember when I heard this it was like my existence disappeared through a crack in the Universe, a Marty Mc Fly moment.  My Dad came back and told my Mom: " We are getting married and that's that.

About five ago we were on a trip.  From the back seat she came up with this comment: "Two men looked out through prison bars.  One saw mud, and one saw stars.

About 20 months ago, Mom was diagnosed with colon cancer.  A further scan showed secondary cancer in the liver.   On March 8, this year after a lengthy battle and tortuous chemotherapy during which she showed her strong will to live, and her strong spirituality, she passed away at home in her sleep, surrounded by five of her children, Dad and one of her grandchildren.  She was 75 years old, and almost 50 years married.  We all fortunately had our chances to say our goodbyes, and how we felt.

I thought she was asleep one time when I said: "I love you Mom."  She opened her eyes and smiled and said:  "It's good to hear that every now and again I suppose."

Here's thinking about you.  Love, Laurence. 


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