Being a mom is delicious torture......

Well, maybe torture is a bit strong.

On the one hand, labor, colic, teething,

food problems, sleep deprivation, doctor appointments,

pre-school, mother's morning out, play dates, chicken pox,

homework, birthday parties, stitches, mud, pets,...

did I mention sleep deprivation?....

dates, driver's license exams, re-takes, attitude,

headaches......

fear, loathing, embarrassment.....

loss of privacy, grey hair,

more sleep deprivation......

Then there are those wonderful moments....

Iloveyoumommy.

Hugs, kisses, Mother's day cards.....

Like the one I received this morning.....

"Happy Mother's Day!"

"Mom, thank you for being the best mom in the world, for always being there for me,

and for supporting me in all my decisions.

Love you, Michael"

OK, it was all worth it.....

I mean it.

Even the sleep deprivation

Amethyst.......

Amethyst.....

This piece came from my grandmother's house, along with several other reminders of her personality. In a couple of weeks, my mother and I are driving north to her sister's house to pick up a few other things that came out of grandma's house. A chair she saved for me, some boxes of photos, a recliner that may be ugly, old and smelly, but it reminds my mom of her mom, so it is worth the trip....

It is hard for me to see my mother emotional and sad...

This is the time of life where we start to take over the responsibility roles for our parents and allow them to simply live the best they can...

Did I say I hate to see my mom cry?

I have a good bit of emotion surrounding my grandmother's death also, but she lived a very long time, and had a marvelous life. And....she wasn't my mother. So, while it is sad...it isn't too much of a lonely feeling.

I love this piece of her life. The amethyst....

I know that it was meant for me,

don't ask my why, it isn't important,

but it was my grandmother's hand reaching out across the

space that separates us now to touch me....

It is beautiful, like she...

Dinner with family....

This weekend we are celebrating my mother's 75th birthday. She is so cute, and it is very hard for me to believe that she is anywhere near her seventies. Of course this photo is a little dated. My son, father and David will all be here for dinner. What a wonderful tradition, to celebrate the day that a loved one was born. I know that everyone feels that their mother is the BEST, but my mother really is.....She stayed at home, cooked, cleaned, made us snacks after school, made Kool-Aid on hot summer days, allowed us to use her quilts and bedspreads to make "forts" in the backyard, led Girl Scout troops, camped, sewed, cut the grass, taught us how to ride a bike, made sure that I woke up to see the moon landing on TV, got me up in the middle of the night to see a meteor shower, tolerated my fashion sense, and allowed me to drive her car. She is my idol. She is the mother that I wish I could have been. She is now my best friend. We don't talk everyday, we are both pretty busy. But we know how to get in touch if we need to....
My mom's family call her "Bink". She never looked like a "Bink" to me. But they all love her and I assume this is a term of endearment. My dad is one lucky guy, and fortunately he knows it.