Some of Many Memories of My Mother . . . I remember:
Gigantic candy canes for all the Grand Children at the family Thanksgiving Dinners at Frankenmuth;
Mom saved photos and keepsakes from our childhood and presented them to us later in life when we could appreciate them. My china tea set and 18” dress up doll brought back so many memories when she gave them back to me;
Mom could wrap a Christmas gift without a single piece of tape;
Mom shopped thoughtfully all year long for keepsake gifts for the Children and Grand Children that were hand-made, durable and often from art fairs and craft shows. My Son has many to pass on to his own Children one day;
Mom was Nanny to Christian for one year when he was one-year old, after I went back to work. She would stay with us from Sunday evenings through Friday afternoons, when Mitch would take her back to Algonac. She told a story of him kissing her knee “to make it all better”, when she complained she needed a rest from playing;
“Put something in your neck;”
After moving back home from San Diego, Mom helped me settle into an apartment in Southfield after five months of living out of boxes - I clearly couldn’t do it myself. My Christmas Tree was still up and decorated (and dead) on St. Patrick’s Day. Mom said the Christmas Tree didn’t need to be up for Easter;
Being at each Graduation and being so proud of her daughter and all her Children when we graduated;
“I see the Colony;”
Big cleaning jobs? “Call the Aunts!”
“Wait now;”
Helping me with a guitar lesson, which didn’t go well for either of us;
Transit Mix en route to Algonac many summer weekends;
Sunday picnics at Upper Straights with all my cousins – you know who you are!
Packing me up for St. Vincent Summer Camp with many matched clothes, folded perfectly into sets – shirts, shorts, underwear and socks. Many years later, I would send my own Child to many, many camps packed exactly as Mother had taught me;
Picking grapes and peaches from our own backyard, and learning how to preserve them;
Having to hang on to Mother’s coat while walking or on the bus, along with Greg and Maureen in tow whenever we went to visit Dr. Eckel, DDS or Dr. Fenner, M.D. or go shopping downtown – “Now don’t let go – don’t let go;”
Mom singing “I love You a Bushel and a Peck;”
Supervising the process of writing, addressing and stamping Christmas Cards with my Mom and Dad. Despite supervision, I remember having put stamps on upside down on cards to Mr. Reynolds’ family – Dad’s boss;
Sunday afternoon rides in a brand new 1953 Chevrolet – “We don’t need to call ahead. They’ll be home!” They almost always were home;
Visiting Grandma Malbouef. Mom helped her own Mother make a meal for 40 like “Stone Soup” out of one chicken wing and a heart;
Mom singing “When They Begin the Beguine;”
Learning how to clean and learning a good work ethic at the knees of my Mother;
Good Humor bars and wading at the Foot of Edgewater Park picnics – just Mom and the Kids;
Mom singing “Mares Eat Oats, and Does Eat Oats…”
Seeing Mom skillfully use the old wringer washing machine, flattening clothes like pancakes.
My Best Memories of Mom however, and the Real Tribute to her is how much she loved her family.
God Bless You Mom. Love, Pat
