A Tribute to My Mother

MaWee taught me first the love of God. I can remember prayer at our family mealtimes and at bedtimes. I remember attending LaJolla Baptist Church as a toddler and pre-schooler. We then attended other churches nearer to our home as an adolescent and teen. Because of MaWee, God has always been presented to me, always been a part of my life!

While a toddler, I can remember MaWee bailing me out of a hopeless situation. I was playing with my doll's hot water bottle, and when it bounced under an overstuffed chair, I was unable to reach it. I cried out in frustration and MaWee came to my rescue. She tilted the chair way back and retrieved it for me. As a 2-3 year old, I can remember to this day, how strong she was to lift the chair and give me back my toy. MaWee was the miracle worker before they ever thought about producing the movie.

At 4.5 years old, I remember how she cared for me while I was experiencing the excrutiating pain of a ruptured appendix. She drove me to the hospital herself. After the surgery, I remember how she lovingly taught me ... that I wasn't supposed to show EVERYBODY my scar!

At 5, when my brother and I played with matches and we accidentally started a major bonfire in our side yard, it was MaWee who put it out. It was MaWee who also saw to it that we were ... disciplined.

She taught me culture; I took ballet, acrobatic and tap dancing lessons. I remember her support of me the night I danced to "Dance with the Dolly with a Hole in Her Stocking" at a talent night with the dance studio.

It was MaWee who let me walk instead of ride in the parade with my dance troupe. I was barely 6.

It was MaWee who handmade my mouse outfit for a number I did for ballet, and my outfit was complete with PINK ears!  I was the ONLY mouse with pink ears!  It was MaWee who wanted me to ... stand out in a crowd!

She gave me opportunities to learn piano and let me take skating rink lessons. I modeled baby doll pajamas in a fashion show for the Women's Club of LaJolla.

It was MaWee who taught me that "pretty is as pretty does". She said many times, "If you can't say something nice about someone, it's best not to say anything at all." She taught me to think before I speak.

I remember MaWee holding me on her lap as she tapped the beat to the songs from movies onto my back. We played a guessing game as to which song she was tapping. My favorite was Doris Day's song, from the movie, "The Man Who Knew Too Much", called ... Que Sera!

MaWee taught me to be frugal; she showed me how to save money. In fact, I had so much saved back that I played store with my real money. I can remember MaWee and Dad, borrowing money from me when they wanted to go to the movies before payday. She also must have taught me about interest ... because I always got back a little more than I had given. ;-)

While sewing my clothes in 4th grade, she taught me how to hold in my stomach, so that when I got to be an adult, I'd have a flat stomach. For that, MaWee ... I'm grateful to this day!

At the dinner table in 5th grade, I casually mentioned that I'd learned "how you make babies" from my friends at school. I, of course, told the playground version! I asked MaWee if it was really ... true. It was MaWee, who took the time after dinner to teach me the more appropriate facts of life.

When MaWee remarried, I was experiencing quite a bit of jealous feelings, going from the baby of the family to the oldest, with 3 younger step siblings. It was MaWee who woke me up before the rest of the family, just so we could have quiet time alone together.

It was MaWee who gave me my first "physical attribute" compliment. Back in the late sixties, we wore micro-mini skirts to high school. MaWee had picked me up from school and told she watched me cross the street and had noticed how "cute" my legs looked in my mini skirt. Gee, they looked just like hers ... no wonder!!

It was MaWee who had the patience to teach me to drive a stick shift ... in a Corvair no less!

It was MaWee who trusted my judgement enough to allow me to go to a drive-in movie ... with a boy ... on a FIRST date!

MaWee was there to comfort me when I got dumped by a boyfriend and I thought I'd never get over him. She told me there were plenty of "fish" in the sea. She told me I'd one day find God's best for me, a man who wouldn't hurt me like this boy had. Years later, when I went through the heartbreak of a divorce, it was MaWee who cried with me over long distance calls.

When I had strayed from the Lord, it was MaWee who showed me I could start anew and experience once again, God's forgiveness and "agape" unconditional love.

MaWee showed respect to the men of my life, even when she didn't approve. She was also there for me when the relationships went sour. She shared from her heart, her own shortcomings and taught me how to move on.

MaWee has loved my own children by her actions. She's made "memories in the mail" so that they knew who Gramma was, even while she was living out of state.  It was her way of influencing their lives ... behind the scenes.  She sent many a Christian tract, wholesome articles and magazines. To this day, my children look forward to hearing from her in this way.

Growing up, I have many fond memories of beaches, parks, picnics and zoo excursions, camping and hunting trips with Dad, summer YMCA camp, of spending time with my grandparents, of many different church outings. All because MaWee wanted me to have memories to cherish that these experiences would provide.

MaWee passed on the "desire to write" and taught me by example how to put my heart and soul into words, through writing life stories. It is now my favorite pasttime.

MaWee wasn't perfect. But she loved me perfectly. As you've seen, MaWee got to see me in good times and bad ... but she's always stood by me and loved me unconditionally.

I am proud to say that I am my mother's daughter!

Please honor my mother and visit her website!