Her Name Was Margaret

My mom's name was Margaret. I wish everyone had been lucky enough to know her. There was something about her. I suppose like all kids, I didn't know how lucky I was until later in life. But, I know I always watched her and took note of how she lived her life. I listened to her talk about her parents, her best friend, Gladys, how she came to be a bookkeeper, how she loved Shakespeare, would love to have been an actress, and how her three daughters were her life. One of her employers always said, "All Margaret thinks about is those three girls."

I grew up hearing her quote Shakespeare's..."To thine own self, be true......." and later in life, I asked her once what she would like on her headstone. She said to me, "You may not have liked me, but you will know who I was." She enjoyed good conversation, new ideas, having fun, reading, helping people and music.

The picture above is from the night my family took my parents to a local Italian restaurant. I knew on occasional Saturday nights, there was an accordion player who strolled the restaurant. I called to make sure he would be there this night and when I saw him in the lobby, I explained to him about my mother and her health. During our dinner, he came to our table and serenaded her for a full half hour. He took her all over the world with his music. He took her to Germany, France, Italy...anywhere she wanted to go. As I watched her listen, I saw her transform. She was anywhere but in the restaurant. She was back in her childhood with her dad as he played in a band, and she was all over the world. She was wherever the music took her. It was a sight to behold.

When we went home I asked her what the highlight of her night was. She said, "Oh, Judy, it was the music, always the music!"

Mom, you still bring tears to my eyes! I love you and how I miss you!