Friday, May 7, 2010

Memories and Mother’s Day

 

SCAN0012

I found this little picture tucked in a drawer while looking for something else. Isn’t that always the way? Mother’s Day is Sunday and around this time of the year I miss my mother. This was the picture I was looking for.

SCAN0009

The picture is hand tinted. I could not tell you the year but she was Queen of the May in Needham, Massachusetts. I love the hat and the homemade costume.

The depression came along and dashed her hopes of going away to college. She would be the first in her family to go to college. She commuted to Simmons and was graduated from there with a degree in Library Science. She went on to work at the NY Public Library in the Children’s room. She met my father  and they married in 1941.

SCAN0017

She was happy to stay at home and take care of her family. She loved to entertain and was a wonderful hostess. I still have her recipe box. I had one just like it and we each had a spoon rest to match. The acrylic is clouded so the photo is not too clear but a mosaic of dried beans decorated the front.

L1030150 L1030151 L1030153

 

And the recipe cards faded and spilled upon….

SCAN0014

SCAN0016

She was a beautiful knitter. I still have the blankets she knit for my boys.

Sadly she left us as she slipped into a world of her own. No more reading, knitting, cooking or conversation. She was diagnosed with dementia. Those who lose a family member to this disease can identify with the heartbreak it can bring. She died in 2000 but left us long before. I miss her every day.

15 comments:

podso said...

A very sweet post, and happy mother's day to you. I stlll have my mother with me and am so thankful for that gift. I don't take it for granted.

podso said...

Yes I made the placecards--size of "trading cards" (remember those?) with ribbons, a stamp (the girls) and buttons!

The Quintessential Magpie said...

Carol, what a lovely tribute to a lovely lady. I miss my mother and grandmother, too. And you're right, dementia is a fierce disease. I hope some day, this side of Heaven, that it is conquered!

XO,

Sheila :-)

Anonymous said...

Dear Carol
That is a lovely post in memory of your mother. You inherited all her skills, as you make wonderful quilts, great artwork, are a great cook and home-maker.
Have a lovely Mothers Day yourself, as you know we have ours in March in the UK.

Very best wishes from your friend Jackie in the UK.

Cass @ That Old House said...

Dear Carol,
I can indeed identify with the heartbreak of losing a mother to dementia. Mine passed away in January 2010 after a very long struggle with Alzheimer's. It is such a wrenching and heartless progression.

My mother, too, was a knitting whiz -- I have bags and bags of sweaters she knitted but had forgotten how to sew together; when I can, I will assemble them for her. We also have stacks of afghans, still in her sewing room.

Several years ago, she knitted more than 70 hats for her church to give to orphanages at Christmas. She came home from delivering them to the church with my Dad, sat back in her chair, picked up her needles . . . and had forgotten how to use them. It was as if the dementia had just turned off that switch as soon as that task was done.

I also have her recipe box; it's priceless. It also has some recipes from her sisters, and I love seeing their handwriting and notes as well.

A church friend of mine called me this morning, to ask how I was doing, coming up on my first Mother's Day without Mama. It surprised me to realize that I have been so wrapped up in making sure my Dad was not going to be alone on Sunday, making sure he was all right, that I have not allowed myself to think about it.

I miss her every day. Now I'm going to have a good cry.

It will help me to have my girls at home for a little while; Alida arrived from CA on Weds and will be here for about a month, and Annie wraps up soon and will be home off and on this summer.

A blessed Mother's Day to you ...Cass

Claudia said...

Thinking of you on Mother's Day with a wish for a happy day for you and yours. And a Happy Mother's Day to you mother.

xo
Claudia

Eileen said...

What a lovely tribute to your mother! My grandmother suffered the same problem near the end of her life and for the last few years, it was like she was already gone. It is such a hard thing for loved ones to deal with. Thank you for your kind words on my post. Happy Mother's Day to you. Thanks for sharing the old photos - they are great. :)

Linda @ Itsy Bits And Pieces said...

Carol~ thank you for sharing your loving memories of your mother! I love her hand tinted childhood photo...

Regina said...

This is wonderful Carol.
Thank you for sharing your mom's memory.

Happy Mom's Day to you. Enjoy the weekend.

Susan @ A Southern Daydreamer said...

Stopped in to say Happy Mother's day....hope it is filled with family, love, and laughter ~ Susan

Susan @ A Southern Daydreamer said...

Stopped in to say Happy Mother's day....hope it is filled with family, love, and laughter ~ Susan

Unseen Rajasthan said...

What beautiful memories you have shared with us !! I really loved the old shots !Fantastic post !!Unseen Rajasthan

Maggie said...

Best wishes, dear friend, on Mothers Day. I think your tribute to your own Mother is just lovely.
Have a super day.
Maggie

Mary Bergfeld said...

Your tribute to your mother is really lovely. She would love the way you've remembered her. I hope you day is wonderful. Blessings...Mary

Sandy said...

Mother's Day is a very quiet day for hubby and me. Both of our parents have passed and we don't have any children. Your Mother was very pretty and you must be so proud of her. My Mother didn't graduate from high school and eloped with my Dad in 1941 when she was 17 and he was 20. They were married for almost 50 years before she passed. I may not be a mother myself but I was a daughter and I miss my Mom (and my Dad) every day.

LinkWithin

Blog Widget by LinkWithin