Mother's Day

 
Fifteen years ago I awoke on Mother's Day crying. My mom was gone. It would be my first Mother's Day without her present. To say I miss her is like leaving this page blank.
 
I spoke to my mom everyday after I married and had children. Everyday. And I wanted to. She would call it, "Just checking in calls". There was always something to talk about. She was a busy woman volunteering, on bowling leagues, golf leagues, her card club, and being the Proverbs 31 woman with attitude.
 
On Mondays I talked to her late in the day because Mondays were her days at Angela Hospice. She volunteered with hospice for over 17 years. She began serving with hospice upon their inception through Hospice of Southeastern Michigan. I would hear stories of patients my mom took care of. Some had AIDS. Some were young, like a mom who had given birth few months earlier and suddenly became terminal. Most were old. All were important. It was never an effort to check off a list of good deeds for my mom. One time she asked me to borrow my van to use the wheelchair lift for a woman to go home to see her cats for the last time.
 
Matter of fact, Mondays were sacred to her. She warned me to never schedule any appointments with the kids on Mondays when I might need her. I never did because I wouldn't want to miss being with her anyway. She usually attended appointments with me.
 
About a week after I gave birth to Hannah, I developed severe abdominal pain and a high fever. I called her early before she left for Hospice. In pure mom-mode she annoyingly told me I had been trying to do too much since the baby was born and I ran myself ragged. She would leave Hospice at lunch time to watch the kids for Jeff to take me to the doctor.
 
Before Jeff and I left she insisted I tell the doctor how much I was doing, perhaps looking for someone else to set me straight on limiting my undertakings.
 
We returned home fairly quickly to grab a bag for me. I was heading off to the hospital with a uterine infection. I had asked the doctor if I may have induced the infection. He said absolutely not. I made sure to mention that before I told Mom I was off to the hospital.
 
Our fun banter ended quickly though because Mom worried about me and camped out for five days at my house all day to take care of the three kids.
 
The dedication she had for others is her legacy and I want to be like her. Thanks for letting me share about her. I needed that on this beautiful Mother's Day.
 
 
 

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