To tell you my thoughts on my mom I would have to start by saying that both of my parents set up a great home base no matter where we lived which always allowed for my mom to be a great homemaker and to be available for every question, owie, complaint, exciting or sad news, great friendship reporting days to broken friendships with many tears and you name it. She was the first I wanted to run to and she was there to listen, hug and kiss me or to simply listen to my rantings/ramblings of any good or bad days I had as a kid and through-out my adulthood. I can't express in any words how much I relied on her for all those moments and how much I will cherish those times.
I found that pretty amazing. I mean I am the middle child with an older brother & sister and my younger brother. I am right there stuck in the middle but I was never made to feel that way and I am pretty sure each of my siblings would agree with that statement as well. We all had a voice and she was there to listen and to give us rides to all the events, kid’s parties, music events, track and field events and much more that we constantly asked her to drive us around to.
My mom also wasn't much for being mad or even disciplining. The worst she would ever do is yell "go to your room" and "you just wait until I tell your father". Which wasn't really a threat since we had our toys, T.V. in the comforts of our own bedrooms as well as it never seemed to reach the ears of our father. Somehow she kept the threat real as we came down the stairs for family diner and during the meal one or two of us would be perfectly behaving and simply hold our breath expecting something but nothing ever rose from her threat other than some direct stares from her at the table. I find it pretty amazing she could hold that authority over us without any true discipline especially with four of us running around.
Well, I can't say my mom didn't ever get mad or show her temper. The first time I remember was when I was about 13. It was all about mice. Yep, I said mice but what I mean is simply a mouse. Not a particular mouse just anything that resembled a mouse seen in her path. If you dare to keep reading here is a strange memory of the first time I witnessed the anger my mom could actually display. It was a day that I placed my retainer (just got braces off type of retainer) on a napkin on the counter in the kitchen after I had cleaned it. Yep not the brightest thing for me to do but I was hungry and trying to rush to the dinner table. So eating at the table my brother and I hear behind us a shriek of swear words that we couldn't believe she was saying. We turn to see over the counter my mom with a rolled up newspaper slamming the paper onto the counter repeatedly and something jumping two feet up in the air over and over. I was in shock over the fact she was swearing but after her third blow with the newspaper I realized it was my retainer she was attacking. I yelled "Stop Mom" but she wouldn't or simply couldn't hear me. I ran into the kitchen while I was witnessing my retainer bouncing straight up into the air and watching as it oddly landed right back onto the same spot on the counter with every blow she gave it. I reached out and touched her on the shoulder and she suddenly stopped and looked at me for a moment. I said, "Mom, why are you hitting my retainer I just cleaned it". Without a word she calmly threw out the old rolled up newspaper into trash in front of her and then looked at me again and she said "l thought it was a mouse".
I will wrap up by saying that my mom didn't deserve the last few years of poor health and struggles that she went through. We all helped her as best as we knew how but she could of lived another 50 years with us helping her through her struggles and it wouldn't of touched even a quarter of the love or affection or caring or time that she reserved for each of us. I wish she could of stayed longer for us to put in more time with her but I know that she is walking again, surrounded by past loved ones and smiling & laughing again with no more pain or suffering.
I miss you so much! I Love you mom and will carry you everywhere I go in my heart.
Your Daughter,
Nicole
____________________________________________________________
Dear Grandma,
While know you will never physically see this, I hope that somehow, you'll about this letter, and know how much I miss you.
I don't know what words I can say to express how happy I am that I was raised around you, and Grandpa. I am so grateful that from the day I was born that I got to be with you on a regular basis, and for a -majority of my life that I got to grow up in your house with the family always around me.
As I am here writing this I realized we have so many amazing memories together that I could honestly publish an entire textbook. The memory I can picture the most is the day you got me bright pink sunglasses, and I wore them like a rock star everywhere I went.
Other memories I will always cherish are all of the times that we all got to go up to Horsetooth. I loved being able to cruise up into the mountains, listening to fun music while singing in the car with you, and spending time up on the boat. One thing I learned and hold dear to me is that life by the water is always better, and going up to Horsetooth still till this day is still one of my favorite places to go in the entire world.
Another memory I cherish is all of our adventures to Macy's Not a day goes by that I don't think of you as I drive by the mall. I remember all our fun adventures when we would go shopping. You always made sure that made time to have fun, and stop to enjoy all the little things in life. I love all the memories of when you, mom, and I would go to the hair salon the same day and get our hair done together. I also loved all the times that we would bake cupcakes in the kitchen and I would play music really loud in the house. I love all of the times we spent outside in the backyard and the time we got to play with the dogs outside.
The last memory I will share is all of our times with the family in Copper. From getting time with everyone in the family once a year is something that I will hold dear to me for the rest of my life.
I loved all of our adventures from the Dam Brewery, to the Bakery, to the Continental Divide. One of my favorite memories that I had when we were at the condo was the time everyone got wine but Alex and I were too little to have it. So you and Grandpa gave us our own wine glasses and we drank juice in it by the fireplace. It was one of the best nights ever.
Most importantly I want to say all of my life, I have cherished every moment I have had with you. Thank you for everything you have taught me and inspired me to do with my life, Grandma. Thank you for taking me to so many places, and always making time for me.
You completely spoiled me with all the time I got with you, and I'm so thankful for it. You encourage me to keep pushing through each day and achieve all of my goals in life. But most importantly you always reminded me to stop what I was doing a busy day and just have fun.
I miss and love you so much and there isn't a day I don't wish you were here with me. There are days I find myself still wanting to pick up the phone and call you like I used to do or even put a tutu on and dance around the room with you when a good song comes on. I am really going to miss our conversations, and all the time we would get together throughout the week. How we could cover such a broad range of topics in a single conversation is beyond me.
Last of all I want to say you loved us all deeply, and we felt it. I hope you were able to feel our love pouring right back at you. Because we love you so much. Then, now, and forever.
I love you Grandma, I can't wait to see you again.
Love always,
Cora
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18