Mother’s Day Tribute…Celebrating My Mom

With Mother’s Day coming up this weekend, I wanted to do something to celebrate my mom’s life. It’s so easy for me (even almost 6 years later) to get swept up in the feelings of loss and grief during this time of the year. But this year, I’m not going down that road! I’ve asked our family to share any funny stories or memories that stood out to them as a tribute and to honor her this Mother’s Day. My mom was the oldest of 7 brothers and sisters, so there are plenty of stories to share.

Her family and friends have shared some amazing and funny stories and I hope everyone will get a better picture of just how special my mom was!

Michael (my mom’s brother) – One Saturday morning. we were watching TV. We were sitting on little chairs, we only had four. I was sitting in one, my sisters, Lulu, Joanne, and Marie had the other 3 chairs. Linda wanted a chair so I told her if she made me a cup of coffee, she could have mine. So, when the coffee was ready, she called me into the kitchen to get the coffee and Linda took my chair. But when I sipped the coffee it was full of pepper! I took one mouth full, spit it out and began to gag. That was the last time I ever asked her to make me my coffee. Love her and miss her.

Christine (mom’s sister) – I remember when our mom brought home a rabbit for Easter. She was so mad because the rabbit pooped under her bed!

Lucy (mom’s sister) – She always remembered how my mom hid in the bathroom when they hired a male stripper for her daughter’s birthday party. There was no way she was coming out until he left!

Joanne (mom’s sister) – Linda always looked out for me. She taught me all my prayers and every night we would practice them. None of my other siblings wanted to do it because she would make us repeat them over and over. She wanted us all to learn all the prayers, starting with the Hail Mary, Our Father, and the Glory Be. She ended the prayers with the Angel of God. She was always there for me, if I had something going on, I could always go to her. Most of the time, I took her advice, but sometimes I didn’t. I’ve made mistakes and Linda knew all of them, I told her everything. I always confided in her and she was my Angel. She was my best friend and I was hers.

Sal (mom’s brother) – Nothing specific comes to my mind. All I know is that I miss her very much.

My dad – When we were living in North Carolina, I was working on a project for the house. I couldn’t sleep so I got up to go into the garage to work on something. I didn’t realize it but when I closed the door from the house to the garage, it locked. Linda was asleep and I was knocking on the door trying to wake her up, but she didn’t hear a thing. I went outside to ring the doorbell but still she never heard me. I spent the night in our car in the garage, luckily there was a blanket because it was chilly that night. Finally, when she woke up and she realized I wasn’t there, she came out and found me asleep in the car. She asked me what I was doing, I explained and said you didn’t hear me at all!

Patty (my sister) –My mom never cursed so when she did, it really made us laugh. I’ll never forget the day, my husband Teddy and I was near her, and she said the word “Shitty.” It was hysterical because only my mom can say it so quietly and make it sound so sweet and innocent. Teddy and I still laugh about it and sometimes when we get upset about something we will joke around and say this is “shitty.”  One day Teddy was able to record my mom cursing on his old cell phone that he doesn’t have anymore, I wish he did. What I wouldn’t do to hear her say it one more time! 

Of course, I have many memories but there are two that I want to share. The first one, I will admit I’m a little hesitant about sharing because it’s embarrassing but it clearly shows her sense of humor. I must have been around 10 years old and I had heard earlier in the day something on TV, from a daytime drama. I wasn’t even sure I understood what they were saying or knew the meaning, but I ran with it. My mom and I were talking about what I wanted to do or be when I grew up and I told her I knew what I wanted to do. So, she asked, and I told her, “I want to be either a stripper or prostitute!”  She nearly fell over. She looked at me and said where did that come from?  I told her I heard it on TV, and she said I don’t think so Joann. I still laugh when I think of that day because I really wish I had a picture of her face when I told her that.

The other story is the time we first moved into our home after my husband and I got married. We were sitting in the backyard when I noticed a baby bird stuck in between the grass and the pavement of my patio. She came over to look and without any hesitation she reached in and picked it up. I was so shocked that she did that. Not that I thought she wouldn’t care about the bird, but that she picked it up, I couldn’t believe it. She brought it in the house, we got a shoebox and she started trying to nurse it back to health. She set the box up with a wash cloth to make it comfortable, fed the bird milk with a dropper and we watched it for the next few days. Unfortunately, the bird didn’t make it. But my mom said to me, well we tried. To me, it was more like she tried, and she really did. After it passed away, she wrapped It up and we buried it in my backyard. I often look over to that area and think of her. She had a big heart and she loved animals. I’d like to think that she met up with her little bird in heaven. I can picture the bird perched on her shoulder and singing to her. I hope they found each other.

Lastly, I just want to wish all the mom’s a wonderful and Happy Mother’s Day.