I can vividly remember those last months in the Bone Marrow Transplant Unit at UAB and Shelby and me running through the hospital to get to her bedside with our family. I can also picture the two of us in New Orleans for a conference that we planned for her business, Reed Marketing Group. We went to K. Paul’s and the Palace Cafe for dinners and Cafe Du Monde for breakfast. I’ve been to NOLA several times, but when I think of that city, that trip with Mama is what comes to mind. I can picture her on the front porch of our Riverchase house, either swinging or lounging on the white wicker furniture. I can remember her and my aunts tipsy and laughing up a storm, drinking a “Diver” at Silky O’Sullivan’s on Beale after Shelby’s college graduation. Summer nights when we were kids on Mtn. Creek Trail, Mama and the other moms would walk up and down our street by the light of the gas lamps (yes, really gas lamps at every house on our street) while we played “ghost in the graveyard” or “kick the ball.” It all feels like yesterday, even if it was ten, fifteen, or twenty-five years ago.
But so much has happened in the last ten years that it also feels like forever. Shelby, Nick, and I all completed college and graduate programs. Shelby and Nick married wonderful people. Shelby and Mike have two beautiful children. We all moved away from our home in Riverchase and bought homes of our own. Dad remarried, and we have expanded our circle of family and friends with the addition of Susan, Peyton, and Parker. It’s crazy to think of how much things have changed.
Mama would be fifty-nine this year, and I sometimes think of what things would be like if she was alive. We had a pretty good relationship when she passed away - not perfect, we had our ups and downs, for sure, but pretty good. What would it be like now? Would she be getting on my nerves all the time? Vice versa? :-) Would she be worried about my health, job, love-life? I know she would be thrilled to be a grandma and spoil Shelby’s babies. Would she be “aging-gracefully” or freak out about getting closer to sixty? (I don’t think sixty is old at all, but let’s be real - Mama was a bit dramatic and a worrier!)
I guess this is all to say I miss my mom. What I would love is to hear/see in the comments or a note what you remember about her or a favorite memory of her. Thanks for helping me honor her.
3 comments:
i love all of your memories, nat. you are right, it feels like forever and it also feels just like yesterday. some of my favorite memories are from our house in riverchase, sitting either at the kitchen table or in the living room visit with family or friends or just hanging out as a family. what a great storyteller mom was!
if i close my eyes and let my mind wander back in time, i can feel her hugs. what a great feeling! that hasn't faded in 10 years and neither has my love for you, mama!
ok - i was logged on to my boss, jim's email account. that comment was from me - SHELBY
I always think of your mom at this time. Ms Mary was an amazing woman! Of course those Mtn Creek Trl days are foremost in my mind when I think of her. Getting a bloody nose on your swingset our first day in Bham & her taking such good care of me, her trying to teach me to play piano and me promising to come over every week to practice (I think I lasted one week total!) and as an adult, lots and lots of laughter and love and all hanging out together. I remember driving to your house the day she died and thinking how crazy it was that people were just driving around like nothing at happened but at the same moment I was reminded of how much fun she'll be in heaven! Sure do love your fam and miss Ms Mary's happy smile!
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