Today is my mother's birthday. She was born January 9, 1914 and said good bye to us on January 6, 2001. She taught me so much about life and how to live with grace and dignity. The following quote arrived in my email this morning and I thought to myself, "How well this fits my mother!"
"The art of living lies less in eliminating our troubles than in growing with them." (Bernard Baruch)
Her name was Margaret and she had a way of being with you. She always made you feel like you were important to her.....like the things you were saying had value...and her face...her beautiful face showed such emotion. I have yet to figure out how she communicated with so few words sometimes.
When she faced adversity she would often say, "It's just another role to play!" You see, she loved acting..and could have gone to New York City to study. Someone from her home town offered to send her free of charge. She chose instead to stay in her small town in Wisconsin, marry my father and have three daughters. I often think she played that role of wife and mother to a standing ovation.
In her later years when her health began to fail, I would go to multiple doctor's appointments with her. I would wheel her down the hallway in her wheelchair and once we got to the waiting room she would find someone to talk to and soon there would be some acknowledgment of, "I know what you are going through", the touch of a hand and a smile of understanding and encouragement. Never once did I experience my mother feeling sorry for herself. No....that simply wasn't her way!
I was in awe of her, proud of her and ever so glad and proud to be her daughter.
I love you mom, and I miss you! We all miss you! Happy birthday!
