If You Ever Need Me Whistle . . . An Ode to My Mother

Today is my mother's birthday. She was born on April 5th, 1940. She would be 69 today.

I say "would be" because my mother died in 1994. She was 54 years old.

The disease that took her life is called Scleroderma. An auto immune disease that causes skin to thicken and harden. The body attacks itself believing there is a foreign invader. Finding none, it turns on itself. If you would like more information on scleroderma, you can check out this link - http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/scleroderma/DS00362

Today, I'm not going to talk anymore about her death. I want to celebrate her life.

Here is my mother, Susan, at eight months old.

Here she is as a young girl getting her photo taken with her younger brother, John.



She was the best big sister. They went through a lot together as kids. She was his protector. She once told me about going to the local dimestore to get an ice cream sundae. They didn't have enough money to get one for both she and John, so she devised a plan. She picked up dirt, smeared it on both of their faces (this was to gain sympathy from the store owner), and went into the store looking up at the big man behind the counter. "My goodness, look at the two of you. Looks like you could use a sundae." "Thank you sir," she replied, "but we don't have enough money." The man's eye's twinkled and he grinned from ear to ear. "It's on me," he said. So there they sat, my mother and her brother. Her arm around him, just like in the photo above. Sipping and slurping the wonderful ice cream sundae overflowing with chocolate and nuts, topped with a cherry and two straws.

This is my mother's graduation photo at 18 years old. I love the pearls. And those eyes!

Her she is the day she married my dad. October 18, 1958. October was her favorite month.

Four generations. Here she is with me in her arms standing with her mother and grandmother.

My mother married at 18 and had me at 19, the first of her five children: Me, John, Robert, Christine and Johanna. She was the best mom. She taught us to sing, to waterski by taking off hopping on one foot off the beach, to live. She had a laugh that made you laugh and when she sneezed it was this high pitched "a a a achoooooooo" that could probably have shattered glass or sent dogs running. She loved her grandbabies. My girls called her "Bama" because they couldn't say Grandma. It came out, "Grrrr-bama" and eventually just Bama.

She was not just my mother. She was my friend. We spent a lot of time together. I told her everything. The good, the bad and the ugly. She loved me anyway.

She taught me to be a tigger. To make lemonade out of lemons. To love like there's no tomorrow. To be loving but firm, strong but soft, and that a spoon full of sugar always helps the medicine go down.

My mother was beautiful, inside and out. She loved life and lived each day to the fullest; always saying that every day was a gift. One of her favorite sayings was, "Yesterday's history, tomorrows a mystery, today is a gift - that's why they call it the present!"

For one of my birthday's, my mother gave me one of my most cherished gifts. A small, heart shaped dish. On the heart shaped lid are the words, "If You Ever Need Me Whistle".

Inside the lid, is a picture of her feeding me a bottle.

Inside the dish is a red whistle.

I'm whistling mama. Can you hear me?

Love,

The Lady of the Lake

. . . And, below, post script from my sissy - Chrissy . . . (with my added comments in parentheses)

I loved your blog about Mom. She really was a great mom.

I remember...

Wine chicken, rose wine, cinnamon rolls with marshmallows on the inside, cheese and chocolate fondue... (I love her wine chicken - I should post the recipe)

Hopping off the beach, whoooo sounds from the lake, dry hair and a beautiful smile... (see, I told ya - hopping off the beach)

A tan slender body, no boobs (she said her bra size was "indent 5"), teal, peach and black bikini with shorts, hair with full volume...(us singing "There she is, Mrs. America)

Bronze and silver eye shadow with black eyeliner, deep eyelids, long eyelashes and mascara, Diane V. lip gloss in a wine cherry red... (I had forgotten about the lip gloss)

Ice skating, chewing gum, lots of coffee and Long John Silvers...

Listening to 8 tracks like Billy Joel and dancing in the living room..."Don't go changing to try and please me...." (And Dionne Warwick - Do you know the way to San Jose . . . la la la-la la-la la la la la.)

Gymnastics meets and practices, pigtails and pink leotards, balance beams in our basements, back handsprings in our front yards...

Singing around the fireplace, laughing at John and Chip...

Riding our horses together. (And me getting bucked off into the blackberry bushes by Shadrack Jones)

The intercom with Dad's funny wake up songs...."You know Dancer and Prancer, but do you recall the most famous reindeer of all? Eddie the red nosed reindeer, had a very shiny nose... (My favorite was Dad singing us "Froggy Went a Courtin")

Yelling out every morning..."I am leaving, and I locked the doors!"...

Moms...You never know how great they are until they are gone.

Many of my friends complain about their mothers. Then they say, "Oh, I am sorry. I shouldn't say that around you." Then I think... It's okay. My mom was great. I wouldn't have complained about her. She was special and my friend. I always wanted to visit her and be around her, and I miss her dearly. I was lucky. Today is my mom's birthday. I miss her and think about her today, but I usually miss her more on other days.

I miss her at Christmas when I see my friends shopping with their mom. I miss her when it is my childrens' birthdays, and I wish she could have met them. I miss her when I think I have done something good and unselfish.

I know that it was her influence and guidance from above that have helped me do the right thing. I miss her unselfishness and loves towards all. She was a great mother and follower of God.

I miss my Little Mama!

(Thanks for the add on Deenie Weenie. I'm glad we have each other.)

Love,
The Lady of the Lake