Tribute To My Mother
Today I'm writing about my mother and how thankful I am that SHE was my mother. I mentioned yesterday that she died of cancer at the age of 45, which was 2 years after I graduated from high school, 1 year after my twin brother/sister graduated and my youngest brother was a senior in high school. My oldest brother had graduated the year ahead of me --- yes she had 5 children in 5 years, one of them a set of twins.
Even with the relatively short life she had, she was a powerful influence on all who knew her. I remember at her funeral at our small country church, there were flowers attached to sheets of latice boards that extended the entire width of the sanctuary and to the ceiling, leaving only a space for the pulpit in the middle. At the time I thought there must not be a bouquet of flowers in any florest shop in the area - they were all there in the church.
We lived on a farm, and back in the 50's and 60's there certainly wasn't much for money and no money for "extras". We ate what we raised (garden, orchard, milk cows, chickens and hogs). My mother made all of our clothes from those cloth feed sacks (anybody remember those?). She had one girls pattern that she made all types of different things from for me and my younger sister. Her ability to make lots of different garments from that one pattern must have been what sparked my interest in pattern making and sewing. She taught me how to sew on a treadle sewing machine - which I wish I still had!!
My Mom taught us how to cook, can and freeze and taught us a work ethic that not many of this generation have. She also was a fantastic piano player and while she tried her best to teach us how to play the piano, I remember being hard headed and wanted a "real" piano teacher. DUH!!! I had the best teacher right there and didn't figure it out.
When we were all in high school we each played an instrument (we DID get a little of her musical ability)!. Mom wrote musical pieces for us - adapting them to each of the instruments we played. We must not have been too bad because for several years our little "band" was asked to perform at several local county fairs in the fall.
Thank you Mom for the great influence you had on us kids and for the entire community. I think of you often and we're gonna have a great reunion in Heaven one day!!
Even with the relatively short life she had, she was a powerful influence on all who knew her. I remember at her funeral at our small country church, there were flowers attached to sheets of latice boards that extended the entire width of the sanctuary and to the ceiling, leaving only a space for the pulpit in the middle. At the time I thought there must not be a bouquet of flowers in any florest shop in the area - they were all there in the church.
We lived on a farm, and back in the 50's and 60's there certainly wasn't much for money and no money for "extras". We ate what we raised (garden, orchard, milk cows, chickens and hogs). My mother made all of our clothes from those cloth feed sacks (anybody remember those?). She had one girls pattern that she made all types of different things from for me and my younger sister. Her ability to make lots of different garments from that one pattern must have been what sparked my interest in pattern making and sewing. She taught me how to sew on a treadle sewing machine - which I wish I still had!!
My Mom taught us how to cook, can and freeze and taught us a work ethic that not many of this generation have. She also was a fantastic piano player and while she tried her best to teach us how to play the piano, I remember being hard headed and wanted a "real" piano teacher. DUH!!! I had the best teacher right there and didn't figure it out.
When we were all in high school we each played an instrument (we DID get a little of her musical ability)!. Mom wrote musical pieces for us - adapting them to each of the instruments we played. We must not have been too bad because for several years our little "band" was asked to perform at several local county fairs in the fall.
Thank you Mom for the great influence you had on us kids and for the entire community. I think of you often and we're gonna have a great reunion in Heaven one day!!
I thought that was a very touching tribute to your mom.
I found the information about using one pattern to make various garments from the feedsacks inspiring.
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Thanks for writing. Just thinking about her inspires me to try to do more. She was a wonderful mother!
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