1

I do miss my Mom.  She passed back in '78.

 

 

Jim

Sunk New Dawn
Galveston, TX

2 My family only took a couple of bona fide "family vacations" when I was growing up. Those were spent in a cabin in the mountains. Normally, we'd just drive up to New England to spend a week or so with my grandparents, aunt and uncle, and cousins. One of my most vivid memories of my mom on these trips was the lunches she'd pack for us for the long drive. They always featured the canned corned beef made into sandwiches. To this day I can't look at those cans without thinking about my mom. Her birthday was last week. She passed away in 1992. Miss you, Mom.

3 Yep, Mother's Day is a hard holiday, Jim.

4 We didn't take family vacations when I was a kid because, Kaboom-style childhood. Plus my parents' divorce when I was 5 and little sister was 2 kind of ruled out happy family road trips. When I was an adult with my own family my mother made a rare trip to spend a few days with us at Christmas. She made it almost 48 hours before threatening to take her stuff and spend the rest of the time until her return flight at a hotel. Wait, that probably wasn't the kind of story you had in mind.

5 >>Wait, that probably wasn't the kind of story you had in mind. Well, I can't say it sounds entirely unfamiliar. My mom was the most even-tempered in our immediate family, but my childhood certainly featured a lot of (unnecessary) yelling. It tended to roll off of everyone's backs, but I think it's no accident that I married a quiet fellow and that we very rarely yell at each other.

6 Probably going to have some fun stories in a couple of weeks. My bro and I are taking the folks camping. (Semi camping. Cabins.) Between watching over them and the kiddies.. Well, should be fun.

7 Here's one of my favorite Mom stories. Before she died my mom was in and out of the hospital several times. At that point (early 1980's) there was still a room in the hospital where people could smoke. So there was was, a very skinny woman dressed in a hospital gown rolling her IV down the hallway so she could have a cigarette. When I went to see her one day as she was lying in the bed and quite ill she said, "I''ll be glad to be cremated so I can finally have a good smoke." Thanks, Mom, for your sense of humor, for passing on your love of literature to me and and getting your tired and weak self on a train with the aid of a cane and for traveling hours each way to and from my Southern college so you could see the one person show I did for my senior theatre project.

8 @5 Indeed. We've been married thirteen years and I've raised my voice at him twice and he has at me once. I am grateful that my children's memories of their childhood home and their mother will be markedly different from mine. She did her best, but it was not and is not a loving relationship.

9 My childhood involved being on the receiving end of lot of beating, screaming, and emotional and psychological abuse. My mother still can't figure out why I don't make a big deal of Mother's Day.

10 A word from Bear Bryant on Mother's Day, old commercial: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Hq9wfYb13U

11 We did take long driving vacations because dad had the oilfield that had to be checked constantly. He cloud get two weeks solid when relieved by someone else in the business, so off we'd go. Camping by pop up or later Airstream (which I still have). Way up the the Panhandle, the Texas one, where there isn't any place to stop Mom needed the toilet. A half an hour later she told my dad, "Honey I really have to go!" "But there's nothing out here." "But I have to go!" Dad, "I'll stop and you get on the side. Pull your dress up over your head and nobody will know who you are."

12 I was 16 years old when my grandmother died. I remember my dad sitting on the fronts steps crying. I had never seen him cry before, and never did afterwards. I remember how helpless I felt, and how inconsolable he was. I have never forgotten the moment.

13 God of life and love, we give you thanks for this new day. We're grateful, O God, for all the ways your presence is made known to us – both in great and small ways – whereby we are reminded of your steadfast love for us and for all people. On this day of celebrating your love, we give you thanks for those who have given us life. We praise you, O God, for your gift of motherly love, both gentle and fierce, both strong and humble, both kind and true. For those mothers have joined you in heaven and whom we miss dearly this day, we give you thanks. We are guided by their spirit and we remember that you promise us communion with your saints. So by the power of Holy Spirit we are never fully separated from them. For mothers who work day and night to raise and care for their children, we give you thanks. And we also remember those mothers who labor at this task alone. May we, your church, remember to uphold all families through our life together as the Church. For mothers who have lost a child to death and must carry on, we ask for your mercy. May we all sustain these mothers in their time of need and answer your call to reach out to them in compassion and love. For women who are new mothers and those who are expecting children but aren’t quite mothers yet, we praise you, O God, for the joy and anticipation of new life. Grant that we never forget our duty to uphold these growing families – that in our shared life together we all may hear the call to be your disciples in this world. For all of the women who have wanted to have children of their own but did not, we give you thanks. These women have been living examples of your love and grace as they have answered the call to nurture and care for others. We also pray, O God, for the mothers who have failed to live up to the call of motherhood. We believe you are a God of healing and we remember that we all stand in the need of your grace. Where we cannot forgive, Lord give us strength. We list all these mothers to you. Amen.

14 Posted by: Mr. Dave at May 11, 2014 11:44 AM (kVK9G) *** That's funny. Nobody would have known who she was anyway, eh? My mom must have been 84 or so when she and dad came to visit us in the mountains. They pulled off the highway onto the access road to our place and she just couldn't wait the extra five minutes it would take to get to the house, so she walked to the back of the car, dropped trou, grabbed the rear bumper and squatted down to do her thing. All of us who were there casually looked off the other direction and whistled softly to ourselves until she was done, then off we went merrily on our way. Sometimes you've just got to do what you've got to do.

15 In a little bit I'll be driving about 120 miles west. Then, tomorrow, a further 400 miles west. The Big Bend. Haven't been in 7-8 years. Got family and property to go see. Closest thing to a traveling vacay in years.

16 Ricardo - Travel safely. We're leaving in an hour or so for a 5 hr. drive to Georgia. I will then drive back home tomorrow. Then, Wednesday I will have to make the same trip down...., only to return home again on Thursday. I'm tired already, and I haven't left yet.

17 Ricardo, excellent idea. Bride and I spent a couple of nights in Alpine on the way to California this winter. Someday I might tell the story of swimming the Rio Grande backwards- -INTO Mexico and being tossed back out.

18 I might tell the story of swimming the Rio Grande backwards ------------------- Feet first? Is there a name for that stroke?

19 My mom was the best. Tough dust-bowl survivor. Loved to laugh and play jokes on us. It thickened our skins and softened our hearts. She taught us how to drive and shoot too. Her mom (the good gramma) was the same. Tough as nails with a golden heart.

20 The sole border guard in Boquillas del Carmen did not approve of a gringo only in boxer shorts swimming into Mexico. He made me swim back.

21 Soona - I posted this link sometime yesterday. A very nice Nancy Griffith tune about family and the dust bowl days: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HT6o-6PK9lY

22 I wish I had a better relationship with my mom. she is overbearing, smothering and controlling so I have to hide almost my entire life from her otherwise she will want to micromanage everything and then criticize you for why you didn't take her 'wonderful' advice. and dad is completely spineless. oh well I will call her for mother's day anyway.

23 Back in 1930 my twice widowed Grandmother had to send my mother back east for relatives to care for. She stayed in San Diego with her older daughter and my mother travelled, alone, on a Greyhound bus to Washington, DC. My mother was 8 years old. It was a long long trip for the day, and the buses were very primitive, but the people of Greyhound aided her along the way. It is a story from another time, but times were bleak then, and people had to survive. I've always admired Ma for that adventure.

24 21 Soona - I posted this link sometime yesterday. A very nice Nancy Griffith tune about family and the dust bowl days: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HT6o-6PK9lY Posted by: Mike Hammer at May 11, 2014 12:08 PM (aDwsi) ------------- Thanks. I'll watch it later when I get to the computer.

25 My mom's mom had seven children (mom is youngest) and no money, capped off with a temper. Mom, her sisters and one brother used to get whipped with a switch they'd cut themselves. Woe betide if you cut one that you thought wouldn't hurt. Regardless, my mother and her sisters loved their mom, and grew up to be excellent parents. None of them revisited that on their children. They are starting to pass now; mom is 68 this year. My mom and I don't see one another nearly often enough but we have a good relationship. My eldest son lives in Canada. We text almost daily. Little is the love of my life and his first act in the morning is to say "good morning", to which I respond "blue spaghetti". The little rotter isn't feeling well and has somehow finagled this into daddy making him breakfast in my bed.

26 I realize I downplayed the beatings. The whippings were a very small part of the physical violence Mom and her siblings.

27 My mom was, what shall I say, "inadequate". She had me at 16 and didn't particularly appreciate motherhood. She made that pretty clear in both words and actions. She had the habit of leaving us kids behind when other, more appealing opportunities ( read:men) presented themselves. I was fortunate to have two very loving grandmothers in my life, who took up the slack. Mothers are where you find them. In these later years, my mom has softened, or perhaps I've just realized that she is who she is, and I can have short times together with her woman to woman, rather than looking for that mother-daughter thing as much. I appreciate the fact that she gave me life, and that she took me to church from the time I was born. If that was the only thing she ever gave me, that alone would be enough. We took a car trip to California once when I was 8. That's the only family vacation I can think of with my mom. We stopped at the Petrified forest and the Grand Canyon along the way. I remember we had a little potty chair along for my sister who was two, and we slept in the back of the car. I thought it was grand.

28 13 Thank you Fenelon, that was beautiful.

29
   I miss my parents--Dad, my role model, and Mom, the REAL boss.

   She died after an operation that should not have been the cause, and I still think that took the heart right out of him.

   Brother and I try to emulate them as best we're able.

30 How much you got on ya?

31 My Mother passed in July 2011 after being in a nursing home with Alzheimer's for almost six years. It's hard to believe she hasn't been here in almost nine years. One of the worse days of my life was when we had to take her for an "evaluation" in a mental facility because she had gotten violent. I'll never forget that day. But Thank God my mother passed away while she still knew me & my older brother. I was with her the night before she passed & she wouldn't eat, drink, take meds or anything. I had called home because she got sick ten days before & I had feeling that was it. When they said she wouldn't eat I told them to get a priest for the Last Rites. Priest didn't make it that day. I got there around six & five or six people were in her room. I asked them to leave. I put on a different CD in stereo & got in bed with her & held her hands & said prayers & sang to her. I was lying side by side with her & she started making a noise, I looked over & she wanted to kissed & she kissed me 6-8 times & smiled right after I told her I think she was going to go home to God soon. She was happy. NP called & told me she finally agreed with me, that I didn't think she would make it, but gave her a few days. I was going to go next day around 2 but got a call that she passed right after priest gave her The Last Rites.

32 carol that is a touching story

33 Mom passed away twelve years ago. Lung cancer. I was actually pretty relieved when she went. She was already gone anyway. Great lady. Fantastic cook though she would always down her own cooking. I find myself reminding me of her quite a bit. @grammie, I think it's great you've been able to reconcile with your mother on some level. I have no idea how I would have turned out without the rearing of my parents. Hell, I'm a god damn mess as it is.

34 Although we didn't have a lot of "family vacations," mostly because of a tight budget, I *am* grateful that my parents didn't do what Mr Y-not's parents did and drag us camping. They had one of those small pop up campers (for sleeping only) and would go to KOA campsites, often in/near Point Judith, RI, but other times in really unremarkable locations. I had a glimmer into the true horror Mr Y-not faced when his folks decided they'd visit us while we were living in Chicago. It was during our starving student stage after we'd first gotten married. They drove from MA to IL, with camper in tow, and wanted us to join them "camping" in some farmer's field on the outskirts of town. And it was during a typical hot, humid Midwestern summer.

35 "Mr Y-not's parents did and drag us camping" Camping can be fun. Middle of summer, dead of winter, yeah, can be miserable. Right weather and it's a hoot.

36 My mom was a hell of a woman. My parents separated when I was eight (Irish Catholic, no divorce). So she loaded all of us in a VW van, and moved us from Upstate NY to Tucson AZ. Her and 5 kids and all our possessions. She was an RN, but still lost my father's income, and I'm sure took a large drop in pay.

So growing up wasn't easy. Face it, we were poor, and many times there simply was not enough food in the house. But things got better, and one thing I always liked about mom was she loved to travel and explore things. You never knew when she would wake you up and say "Lets Go", and you would be in the car traveling to the Grand Canyon, or some ruins somewhere in AZ.


So as an appreciation as we kids all go older and had jobs, when she retired from Nursing we all got together and gave her a year long pass on one of the airlines. Not sure if it was American or Delta or whomever. Anyhoo, boy did   she take advantage of it. Flew to Australia, Ireland, and all over the U.S. Hell, I still have a boomerang she brought back from Australia.


Probably the best gift we ever gave her.


She was a good mom. Deeply missed.

37 That sounds wonderful, HH.

38 We make sure to create adventures for our kids when we travel. We took them to Hawaii for Christmas a couple of years ago. We got a little RV to take them around we go to great places. We've got four of them by the way.

39 My parents and grandparents were really inspirational and whatever quirks they had were never of meanness. Lost my mom one year ago and still miss our conversations, especially about politics. She was a GOP regular all the way and I was the wild rebellious small-l libertarian wing of the party and an early supporter of Reagan. She kept threatening to disown me because I was splitting the party, but dad thought my "rebellion" was a hoot. I was telling her about the Paul drone filibuster and that it gave me hope for the GOP -- and she actually admitted that sometimes her "rebel" might have been right.

40 I had the best Mom ever. I lost her in June '06, and I miss her every single day. She was beautiful and talented and a fabulous cook. She loved my dad, brother and me ferociously. She loved God, and had a ministry in helping people who were terminally ill. If she found out someone was in need, she would buy them clothes, round up furniture, pay their electric bill....whatever they needed. Everything I ever learned about being a wife I learned from her. We lost her to a major heart attack when she was only 68.

41 My mom was the baby of her family, so, spoiled. She was not ready to raise five kids, but oh boy did she. We knew about her temper, and when to keep our heads down and when to run outside before the worst of it, but we also never went hungry, we always had good shoes and clothes, she could make one beef roast last a whole week and we never knew we were poor until we got older. She always took us to swim team practice, and skiing, and hiking, and camping, and dinner was always on the table by 5:30. She was hell with a wooden spoon--could smack you upside the head without even turning around to look--but to this day I am grateful that she taught us to cook, clean, sew, knit, manage a household and a limited budget, and look good doing it. She raised four ladies and one gentleman, and if she never said "I love you," she really didn't have to. She's 86 now, and losing her memory, so maybe it won't seem like such hard work anymore. God love her, and so do I.

42 Good Afternoon, Chemjeff. My mother knew she had that frigging disease & thought she had it because she was stupid. She was in the middle of nine children & the last one left. Her youngest brother, who was only one left died in November 1999. My mother made is to age 84. Two of her sisters died before they reached 80. I don't want to say this the wrong way, but I wished my mother would have had a quick heart attack & not have had to suffer from that frigging disease for ten plus years. She was good at hiding it in the beginning. My mother was a saint. Her mother had rheumatoid arthritis & was crippled in bed for 23 tears & felt best when pregnant & they continued to have kids. My mother grew up taking care of her mother, her younger siblings, babysitting older siblings kids. Then she had my older brother & one of my cousins(her sister died) & my father to take care of. Then 101/2 years later I came along & then my younger brother. She took care of everyone. When we grew up & father passed away, two of her sisters also had same arthritis but medical advances helped, but both were stuck in wheelchairs. My mother would go over & do everything for her younger sister, she'd help her bathe etc, do laundry etc three or four days a week. I was in The Bahamas in 1995 & for some reason I felt I had to call her. When she answered the phone she was trying & not succeeding at trying not to tell me something. Her younger sister spent Saturday at ER with her daughter at Mass Eye & Ear for a eye infection. She was 64 & had massive heart attack. At that time she was only person to die at Mass Eye & Ear. Another sister died three months later & another brother died in March 1996. She lost the three she was closest to within ten months of each other. I don't remember the mother with that disease, I remember the mother who was home, cooking home made Pizza & brownies for me& my younger brother & friends after school & then she would make big dinner too. Even though you & your mother don't see things the same way, appreciate her while you have her. When are you leaving for CA? I posted this yesterday & knew it was stupid, neck started hurting late last night. I'm answering an email & getting off my butt to go outside & plant roses today. It's warm out here. Doctor asked me my weekend plans & I told him I have roses to plant. He said that was great.

43 Mom had her ways and, like all of us, some not so good. Her and "dad" divorced in 59 when I was 4. He took off. Saw him 3 times while growing up. She raised 3 of us on her own. Secretary wages. When I hit jr high and older sis high school she took to selling wigs and encyclopedias at night to help make ends meet (read keep me in milk and baseball cleats). Could have remarried any number of times. Beautiful, great cook, athletic and,,, well,,, elbows. But no one was good enough for her kids.

44 years ago I used to work as a zookeeper, and someone has to work on every holiday, cuz the animals like to eat everyday. They're picky that way. So one Mother's Day I'm there head and shoulders deep into a sump, cleaning feathers and penguin shit off a drain screen, and one of my co-workers, who is also a mother, walks by and wishes me a "happy fucking Mother's Day". That still makes me laugh. I love my husband and son to pieces, but today I'm having to drop hints as to the revolutionary notion that Mom shouldn't have to clean up that little blob of dog diarrhea that the dogs thoughtfully left for me this morning--on the one rug we have. I don't think I can stand it being there any longer though, and will wind up cleaning it myself. That's a big part of a mother's job anyway, cleaning up shit from various sources, but it's worth it in the long run.

45 tcn, Appreciate your Mom while you have her, I think you do.

46 I think for some of us, even if our moms spent some quality time NOT being June Cleaver, we need to remember that back then a woman had kids. That was expected, not a choice. And not all women were meant to raise babies into adults, but they did anyway. Doesn't excuse the mean part, but maybe it can lead to some forgiveness. I have found it best to turn it loose.

47 But no one was good enough for her kids. Posted by: teej at May 11, 2014 01:15 PM (DcFUD) And THAT RIGHT THERE is mom in a nutshell.

48
  If everyone cleaned up bits of shit left around there may well NOT be any Dems existing.

49 My favorite mom saying? I have two: "You got two broken arms and two broken legs? Get up and get it yourself." "That may be fine for your friends, but you are better than that."

50 Happy Mother's day to all of the 'ettes, & 'rons & 'ettes mothers. M Day story? Took mom to the casino for their brunch. Walked in, put a $100 in a $2 machine. 1st spin, $472.00. Set the tone for the day. :-) Good day.

51 Oh, and one more: "Mow the lawn. Why do you think I had kids?"

52 tcn, Appreciate your Mom while you have her, Amen.

53 Posted by: tcn at May 11, 2014 01:11 PM (g+qqc)


OMG! The Wooden Spoon. Mom always, always threatened us with the dreaded wooden spoon.


Actually, I can't recall if she ever hit us with it.


And of course the "I'm going to tear your arm off and beat you with the bloody end!".


Fairly certain that never happened, as I and my siblings  all  do seem to have both of our arms....

54 " Walked in, put a $100 in a $2 machine. 1st spin, $472.00. Set the tone for the day. :-) Good day." That is a good day. What damn casino?

55 I terrorize Mother with bouquet of wild mountain cats.

56
   Or stop crying, or I'll give you something to cry about.

57 stop crying, or I'll give you something to cry about. Posted by: irongrampa at May 11, 2014 01:24 PM (SAMxH) No, that was Dad.

58 OMG! The Wooden Spoon. Mom always, always threatened us with the dreaded wooden spoon. Actually, I can't recall if she ever hit us with it. And of course the "I'm going to tear your arm off and beat you with the bloody end!". Meh. "I brought you into this world & there is no one that will stop me from taking you out".

59 A special shout-out to all the moms whose kids aren't home today because they are traveling the world via the U.S. Military, serving and protecting. May God keep them safe and bring them back home soon.

60 That is a good day. What damn casino? Choctaw. In Durant, Ok. Wife & I finally came out ahead for a change.

61 The only time I remember Mother striking me was a woman's slap that I got when I was a rebellious 13 or so. I said "how does that grab you" and whap! I never did that again.

62 "Choctaw. In Durant, Ok. " Nice. Been once.

63 Grammie Winger, Amen to your #59. when is your surgery scheduled?

64 So, Michael Sam came all over his twink's face?

65 I still can't figure out how I ended up such a smart ass since every time I sassed or smarted off, it got slapped down my throat. Hmmm.... And then I catch myself using those phrases on my son, and it makes me sort of choke up a bit. Nothing like turnabout to find out it is fair play.

66 "...or we could wait until your father gets home?"

67 Ricardo: You from West Texas? I'm driving through there on the way to visit my mother in AZ this summer. Have a wild hare urge to take US 90 through Marfa and such to get a feel for the region. Any thoughts?

68 Posted by: Carol at May 11, 2014 01:27 PM (gjOCp) Hopefully I will know on Tuesday. They keep taking those darn CAT scans. Gosh, I hate drinking that prep stuff. Makes me gag.

69 My family did almost no vacationing, it wasn't my father's thing. Whereas my mom loved going places, but had a massive phobia about driving she could never surmount. When she had been divorced for some years and I got a real job, I started taking her on annual vacations. Nice long drives of a week or two, up Highway 1, exploring Gold Country, visiting the Southwest, whatever. And shorter weekend jaunts too, San Diego and Santa Barbara and such, showing her places her husband never had. It wasn't that many years, alas, until her health dictated the road trips cease; diuretics don't encourage long drives, if you know what I mean. But she always looked back at those times with happiness, and so did I. She's been dead for some years, but still I see a new place and wish I could've taken my mom to see it too.

70 I am actually on the plane right now for CA

71 "Choctaw. In Durant, Ok. " Nice. Been once. Mom lives 30 from WinStar, but 1 & 1/2 hours from Choctaw. She's only been once since dad passed, when I took her 2 years ago for her birthday. Her and dad would go all the time.

72 Should have added she made it to almost all of my ball games and forced me to take band in 7th grade. Thanks for both of those mom. Much like BackwardsBoy I've enhanced the revenue a bit, and had fun doing it, due to that last one. But you should have seen her look up and her "may the saints preserve us" eye roll when I rebelliously said "Fine, I'm gonna play drums." The counselor enrolling me just laughed.

73
   My parents did it by the rule of 3--you got told do/don't do 3 times.

   4th time, you accepted your fate, there wasn't any negotiation or mercy.

   Even little shits like me learned what to do or not.

74 I'm sorry you have to go through that Grammie, but we can't help things we can't change. My neck felt Good Friday, it didn't start to hurt until late last night. Usually it gets worse late in day of injection. Let us know, I've been praying for you. Happy Mothers Day!

75 Chemjeff, Are you vacationing or business?

76 Thank you Carol, I've been praying for you too. Pain is not fun, not fun at all. I hope you feel well enough to tend to your roses. I bet your yard is just gorgeous.

77 "Ricardo: You from West Texas? I'm driving through there on the way to visit my mother in AZ this summer. Have a wild hare urge to take US 90 through Marfa and such to get a feel for the region. Any thoughts?" Sort of, yes. Mom's family scattered all through Marfa, Ft. Davis, and, Alpine. Dad worked out there for 20 years. Hell yeah, take 90. Good drive through good country. Got the extra few hours go up to Ft. Davis and do the Davis Mountains loop. You will forget that you are in Texas.

78 My mother never hit me. But she WOULD use the line that it's never too late to start...even in my 40s.

79 Oh dog gonnit grammie. You too Carol. Going through all that. Hey Dad. You too busy up there to help these two out or what. Howz about a little help for em. And no dilly dallyin'. Thanks.

80 Thanks Ricardo, I'll look up that Ft Davis Loop. I love to seek out the wide open places, they get harder to find. Never been to Texas, looking forward to it.

81 Need to get some mowing done. Too windy to be up on a ladder with a 16 inch chainsaw that weighs half as much as my scrawny backside. Didn't stop me yesterday but today I have the added excuse of my 59 year old back being too sore,,, from yesterday. Love each other fellow babies!!

82 " Never been to Texas, " Where you driving from, Jinx?

83 I want to wish Michelle Obama a happy mothers day and for raising to beautiful children of color to lead this county into the 21st century.

84 teej, I'm using iPad & it wanted to make it "teen" but so far it's okay. Thanks for the thoughts,I'll take extra painkiller.

85 I do appreciate my mom, whom I still have and still travel with. I consider myself one of the most fortunate people on earth to have her as my mom. Regarding travel, you know liberals revile SUVs as a worse creation than even the Koch brothers. but to my family they are a blessing. We used to spend every August at the family ranch in the Big Bend area, and the 350 mile drive out there was miserable in the old Buick station wagon. It had only one AC vent, so we four kids would hang our heads over the back of front seat like dogs, trying to catch a breath of cool air. What's a seatbelt? Seatbelts didn't figure into the picture. When we arrived at the ranch, the Buick couldn't handle the ranch roads, so we went everywhere in the ranch pickup, with most of us kids riding in the bed, again, like dogs. We rode in the open bed like dogs with lightning storms threatening and even on the highway at 70mph to go into town for groceries and comic books. We thought is was fun, but it was dangerous enough that it's against Texas law now. Then, we bought our first Suburban: Air vents in the back and it could handle ranch roads. We kids got to ride inside, with AC, wearing seat belts, just like real humans, instead of like dogs. The dogs could ride inside too! My mom used to drive her horse trailer, a large motor home, and that beat up stick shift ranch pickup without batting an eye. I can't drive a trailer worth a shit. Sorry to ramble on, but seriously, anyone who hates SUVs doesn't know the real blessing in safety and comfort they were to so many people.

86 "at the family ranch in the Big Bend area" Where at, stace?

87 Ok, one last Mom post from me.


Some years ago, I was looking at some old family photos.


A group at a wedding. I noticed this one woman standing near the top of the photo and was thinking "Who's the Babe?"


Then I looked closer.


As you can imagine, to my chagrin...

88 Don't ever give your Mom a small green snake you found in the yard as a surprise Mother's Day gift. Just don't. Was most educational for a wee lad.

89 Good afternoon, folks. Happy Mother's Day to Moms here and everywhere. Fenelon, great tale. A sense of humor can cut through the worst pain... I have a few good "road trip" stories, and don't even get me started about the time parents lost me in the woods when we went camping!

90 Hell yeah, take 90. Good drive through good country. Got the extra few hours go up to Ft. Davis and do the Davis Mountains loop. You will forget that you are in Texas. Posted by: Ricardo Kill at May 11, 2014 01:38 PM (9qxR5) yes, it's beautiful, even though most of it burned back in 2011. You don't really notice it now. We often stop in at the McDonald observatory, which is one of the US's best.

91 Where at, stace? Posted by: Ricardo Kill at May 11, 2014 01:49 PM (9qxR5) HQ is about 10 miles west of Marathon off highway 90. It's the extended family that owns it, descendants of my great grandfather. Lots of cousins to share with.

92 Grammie, Yard is a mess, I planted crocus bulbs in the 80s & pull the foliage out because it grows into the roses. Yet, they come back every year. It's nice to see little flowers in late February. The weather hasn't been good on weekends, yesterday it rained, but today is beautiful. Thank you for prayers, I've got to put this away, it's 2 & I'm still reading here. I have to stop coming here during the daylight hours.

93 Mom died of a brani anyerism (sp) in 95 at age 54.  We had spent the last few years getting really close.  She used to sit in the garage with me and drink beer whild I worked on my MC.  It was sudden.  I so miss her.  Almost dropped out of college and Dad stepped in.  Dad and I are especially close. 

94 Teej, Your mother sounds like a good one, but most of them are. Grammie, I'm glad you can talk to your Mother now. I'm going to get dressed. I expected I would wake up early because I have been. Can't waste daylight hours. I hope everyone has a nice day today, Fenelon, That was a lovely prayer. Thank You!

95 Mom would beat us with a razor strop between fights with dad. Happy mothers day, indeed.

96
I celebrate my mother today, recognizing her warmth, compassion, and ability to feel others pain.  She is a woman of the world, and would become a great mother to all when elected to the presidency.

I am also pleased to have cajoled my husband into having unprotected sex so as to delivery in a timely fashion,  a baby for mothers use during her campaign for Commander in Chief.  Our little bundle of joy will be a great asset to our overall goal of continuing President Obama's transition of America from a deadly Super Power creating hate and discontent throughout the world into a loving and compassionate country redistributing wealth to the needy,  and securing the Democrat Party's place in history for decades to come. 

97 Ricardo: I am driving from NW Virginia to south of Sierra Vista, AZ

98

You know youÂ’re a military mom ...

Air Force

“... when your kids have traveled through and lived in more states by their 10th birthday than the average middle-aged adult.”

— Stephanie Mestichelli-Schopfer

“... when mom is TDY and the CDC ladies tell Dad to bring the hair accessories.”

— Christine Anderson

“... when your kiddo asks, ‘where are we moving next?!’ about every two years and can already name options for potential assignments and give their input and preferences.”

— Michelle Hurley Kemp

“... when your 5-year-old asks, at least 3 times a week, if we’ve gotten orders yet ... to Hawaii ... lol ... optimistic kiddo.”

— Kati Torres

“... when you miss important moments of your kids’ [lives] to execute the mission, but they never mention it; your kids remind you to get your CAC and hat every morning ...”

— Misty Southerland

“... when your kids are playing and they scream, ‘Fire in hole.’ ”

— Elizabeth Sexton

Army

“... when at your change of responsibility, your 5-year-old tags the battalion CSM and commander and declares them ‘it.’ ”

— Erica Jones Lehmkuhl

“ ... when you run out of nursery rhymes and sing cadence to a fussy baby, and they like cadence better.”

— Kailey Burrus

“... if leaving on deployment brings you both exhilarating joy that you’re about to make a difference in the world while in combat and simultaneously brings you to the depths of despair to leave your children behind.”

— Dana Fischl

“... when you call your kids from the demo range on Mother’s Day so they can hear you detonate explosives!”

— Terri Christiansen

“... when you’re walking through the electronics department and your 1-year-old points at a computer and yells ‘dadda, dadda!!’ ”

— Abby Jackson

“... when you have pumped [breast milk] in the car on the way to PT ... when you’ve pumped while at the range.”

— Brandi Fogle Vannoy

“... when your daughter says, ‘I never have to be scared, my Mommy’s a soldier and she protects us from bad guys better than a superhero can.’ ”

— Stephanie Gavin

“... when your kids have hugged the legs of multiple soldiers because of the uniform, before realizing that’s not their daddy.”

— Bethany Lopez

“... when you send care packages not only to your son, but all of his battle buddies.”

— Cheryl Sexton Tolan

“... when your 2-year-old refers to naptime as 1300.”

— Laura McGraw Wert

“... when your daughter at her kindergarten graduation states she wants ‘to be a soldier just like my mommy’ when she grows up and it brings tears to your eyes.”

— Dawn Metro Flynn

“... when you call cadence to get your toddlers to leave the house. ‘Your left, left, left right left.’ ”

— Rosemarie McAllister

Marine Corps

“... when your son comes home from boot camp, sits on the porch next to you and hands you a huge bundle of envelopes tied with a boot lace, and says “thank you mom for writing me all these hundreds of letters, it’s what got me through.”

— Holly Cousins-Schaefer

“... [when] you can manage to hold it together as you pry your children one by one out of their father’s arms as they say goodbye to daddy, knowing that this moment of sadness can not compare to the overwhelming joy of their reunion.”

— Jillian Jacobs Morrow

“... when you knife hand your child, while using the term ‘Devil.’ ”

— Tiana Michelle

“... when your son walks in unexpected in full dress uniform to give you flowers for your birthday.”

— Amy Cuthrell

“... when your little ones tell other kids their mommy is fighting the buggy man so other mommies don’t have to.”

— Brianna Vorpahl

“... when you look forward to going on vacation to 29 Palms!”

— Lisa C. Jones Dains

“... if you ever told your minutes-old baby how sorry you are that daddy isn’t there because he’s headed overseas, but he loves her so much.”

— Aya Velazquez

“... if you’ve ever deployed and finally got the opportunity to call your kid just to hear them say, ‘I’m busy right now, mom’ and feel your heart break into a million pieces cause they’ve obviously moved on without you.”

— Tiffany Carter

“... when you and your kids know what a countdown jar indicates; when your packing system is done by color coding; and when you can accept the things you cannot change.”

— Michelle Rahmig

“... when you hold back tears and your emotions when you tell your kids ‘see you guys in six months, it’ll go by quick.’ But the best part is being [able] to finally let go of all those tears when you read that ‘Welcome Home Mom’ sign.”

— Nancy Cardenas

Navy

“... when you carry pictures of your child(ren) in your cover!”

— Cassondra Gillum

“... when you have to haul six bags to work every day — diaper bag, PT bag, lunch cooler, baby milk cooler, breastpump, and purse!”

— Theresa Sprague

“... when you always have one of your little boy’s baby blankets in your seabag, still smelling like his bath-time baby lotion.”

— Kristy Pegram

“... if you hug every young man or daughter in uniform and say ‘I am a Navy Mom and this is for your Mom.’ ”

— Lisa Hughes Lusk

“... when you Google your entire phone conversation with your son just to understand what he’s just told you.”

— Tammy Berry Weatherly

“... if coming home from deployment is the most exciting and anticipated day, but at the same time you’re nervous that when you reach out your baby will pull away ... because you’ve been gone so long.”

— Patrice Washington

“... when you and your spouse do an ‘official turnover’ when one of you deploys ... when one leaves, the other assumes the watch.”

— Christian Houston

“... if your rack is covered with pictures of your daughter and all you do in your free time underway is look at pictures and videos of her that you’ve seen dozens of times before.”

— Beata Jesusa Bautista

“... when, after the years go by, you realize you made it through all the things you never thought you could.”

— Shawna Bryant

“... [when] at 2200 or later you are finally able to take your boots and uniform off because until this moment you had to get everyone else in your life taken care of first.”

— Holly Miguel

“... when you’ve read more bedtime stories over Skype than you can count.”

— Meredith Jackson-Morgan

“... if your kids get your attention by calling you “YN1” after the “Mom, Mom, Mom” or first name doesn’t do it.”

— Randi McRobbie

“...when you work on the seventh deck and you give birth on the fourth deck of the hospital ... with lots of shipmates along for the ride!”

— Kathryn Foley Fair

“... when you have spent more time away on a deployment, IA,or GSA than at home in your 5- year-old’s life.”

— Amber Williams’

“... when your child asks you ‘Mom ... Are you going to war?’ ”

— Michelle McKenna

“... when your 1-year-old daughter does pushups”

— Dawn Fortenberry Turner

99 "I am driving from NW Virginia to south of Sierra Vista, AZ " Holy Shit. That is a drive.

100 Chelsea, We don't want her!

101 I'll have my youngest son with me, so it will all be quality time!

102 "HQ is about 10 miles west of Marathon off highway 90. It's the extended family that owns it, descendants of my great grandfather. Lots of cousins to share with." No shit. North of south of the highway?

103 Dorcas, If you want to celebrate Moochelle, at least spell "two" correctly as in children!

104 My son gave me a book for mothers day "Assholes: a Theory". It is about why people are assholes and how to get along with them. I laughed.

105 Yeah, she said "one time won't hurt" and I fell for it. My momma told me....

106 NGU, thanks for that.  My allergies seem to have kicked in.  Where did you find that?

107 No shit. North of south of the highway? Posted by: Ricardo Kill at May 11, 2014 02:21 PM (9qxR5) HQ is south of the highway, at the base of the Del Norte mtns.

108 Great gift, PGiS!

109 NGU, thanks for that. My allergies seem to have kicked in. Where did you find that?

Posted by: Infidel at May 11, 2014 02:31 PM (pTP6v)

The Navy Times

110 "HQ is south of the highway," I'll be damn.

111 In honor of today, Stevie Ray & brother Jimmie - Mama Said http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=KJFXAkfOiME

112 Just cracked my first beer. Stomach is empty. I'm not going to hold a sëáncê today.

113 " Just cracked my first beer. " Just polishing off the second as we speak. And it's only 1:45. Damn. And I got shit to do.

114 Take care folks, time to put the rooster in the oven. Mama doesn't cook today, so I guess it's up to me.

115 Happy eating, Jinx.

116 Just polishing off the second as we speak. And it's only 1:45. Damn. And I got shit to do. Posted by: Ricardo Kill at May 11, 2014 02:46 PM (9qxR5) Don't beat yourself off: drinking beer is doing something. Up, I meant up.

117 Can't call mom, but my kids called their mom. Life goes on

118 Posted by: Dave in Texas at May 11, 2014 02:52 PM (l7DqC)


Glass half full, Dave.


Lot's better than no glass.

119 Hey, while I wasn't looking, my husband cleaned up the dog diarrhea. He says it was probably barf. Either way, that makes for a happy mothers day.

120 @119 You lead a glamorous life there, stace! ;-)