Monday, March 21, 2005
A VERY SPECIAL DAY IN MAY....1989
May came in pleasant but dry. We needed rain which is unusual for springtime. We enjoyed Jennifer’s preparations for the prom and took pictures; Becky and I had worked hard to fix food at the church for the seniors to come by after the prom. It was a big event in Jennifer’s young life. A few days later the youth leader had them prepare a dinner for the elder members in the church with a program and music. Jennifer sang two songs and dedicated the last one to Bear and me. It was “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross”….one of our favorite songs. Needless to say it was a nice evening and we were proud of Jennifer.
I worked on the 11th but we expected the Powell’s to come in sometime after noon. I made a quick supper for all of us when I got home and had Becky and Jennifer come to eat and visit. We were watching for aunt Sally to come in any time but Jennifer was singing in her high school Spring Concert so we gals went to the auditorium and the guys stayed here to welcome Sally. She arrived about an hour before we came home.
Uncle Roger and aunt Phyllis arrived the next morning and I fixed lunch for us and then made preparations for the “Birthday Open House” in mom’s honor out at Willow Care. This time she was aware of the festivities…..I didn’t want to repeat the shock she got when I pulled a surprise party on her 80th. Becky went to her room and helped her get all “gussied” up and I was in the dining room putting out flowers, the cake, paper necessities to serve with and all of the practical needs to be done. We had invited anyone who wanted to come by placing an invitation in our town paper so we were expecting a crowd.
Mom and Dad lived in Willow Springs from 1948 until he died in 1974, after which mom still lived in their home until failing health required her to move to WC. Therefore, they had many friends and with the friends Bear and I had we were preparing for the masses as well as our relatives. The occasion began at 2:00pm…Becky walked mom down the hall and to the dining room…..she was so pretty in her pastels and silver hair. Her brown eyes twinkled like a little girl at her first party. She was the belle of the ball until we had to close down for their dinner hour.
We had requested no gifts but of course, some brought anyway, and she received an avalanche of cards…….spent all afternoon visiting with old friends, with her siblings hovering close by the whole time. I so enjoyed her pleasure of seeing everyone and catching up on the news from each one. Mom was never “in the limelight” and never received many accolades but that day was hers to own and clutch to her heart.
Afterwards we came to our house and had a lunch…..laughing and reliving the good moments during the afternoon. Mom went back to her apartment when she was too tired to take anymore in. We made beds for aunt Inabelle and uncle Tom, and aunt Sally. Uncle Buster and aunt Phyllis stayed at a motel. The next morning they came back and their son, Roger Phillip and his wife and son arrived. They couldn’t make the party the day before but wanted to pay their respects to mom. They visited with her at WC and then brought her here to meet with the other relatives. We spent that Saturday together and the Powells and uncle Buster and aunt Phyllis treated us to a nice dinner that evening. Sunday was Mother’s Day. I had corsages made for mom, the aunts, Becky and Jennifer and buttoners made for the guys. Bear had one for me. I went early on Sunday morning to pick up the large bouquet for the sanctuary in honor of mom’s birthday and all the other mother’s attending that day.
After dinner that evening, uncle Buster and aunt Phyllis took mom back to WC and said their goodbyes. They were leaving the next morning from their motel. The rest of us had one last day together before our family had to leave for home. We brought mom out for lunch and more gadding…..then I fixed a meal that evening. Aunt Inabelle and aunt Sally took mom back, later, and said their goodbyes. They were leaving in the morning and I had to go back to work.
Those times take a lot of work, before, during and after but somehow I never remember all of the effort. I only remember the pleasure it brought mom, the warmth from loving relatives and the joy of coming together for the few days we had. How quickly I would do it all over again just to see those dear faces………
Until tomorrow,
Essentially Esther
I worked on the 11th but we expected the Powell’s to come in sometime after noon. I made a quick supper for all of us when I got home and had Becky and Jennifer come to eat and visit. We were watching for aunt Sally to come in any time but Jennifer was singing in her high school Spring Concert so we gals went to the auditorium and the guys stayed here to welcome Sally. She arrived about an hour before we came home.
Uncle Roger and aunt Phyllis arrived the next morning and I fixed lunch for us and then made preparations for the “Birthday Open House” in mom’s honor out at Willow Care. This time she was aware of the festivities…..I didn’t want to repeat the shock she got when I pulled a surprise party on her 80th. Becky went to her room and helped her get all “gussied” up and I was in the dining room putting out flowers, the cake, paper necessities to serve with and all of the practical needs to be done. We had invited anyone who wanted to come by placing an invitation in our town paper so we were expecting a crowd.
Mom and Dad lived in Willow Springs from 1948 until he died in 1974, after which mom still lived in their home until failing health required her to move to WC. Therefore, they had many friends and with the friends Bear and I had we were preparing for the masses as well as our relatives. The occasion began at 2:00pm…Becky walked mom down the hall and to the dining room…..she was so pretty in her pastels and silver hair. Her brown eyes twinkled like a little girl at her first party. She was the belle of the ball until we had to close down for their dinner hour.
We had requested no gifts but of course, some brought anyway, and she received an avalanche of cards…….spent all afternoon visiting with old friends, with her siblings hovering close by the whole time. I so enjoyed her pleasure of seeing everyone and catching up on the news from each one. Mom was never “in the limelight” and never received many accolades but that day was hers to own and clutch to her heart.
Afterwards we came to our house and had a lunch…..laughing and reliving the good moments during the afternoon. Mom went back to her apartment when she was too tired to take anymore in. We made beds for aunt Inabelle and uncle Tom, and aunt Sally. Uncle Buster and aunt Phyllis stayed at a motel. The next morning they came back and their son, Roger Phillip and his wife and son arrived. They couldn’t make the party the day before but wanted to pay their respects to mom. They visited with her at WC and then brought her here to meet with the other relatives. We spent that Saturday together and the Powells and uncle Buster and aunt Phyllis treated us to a nice dinner that evening. Sunday was Mother’s Day. I had corsages made for mom, the aunts, Becky and Jennifer and buttoners made for the guys. Bear had one for me. I went early on Sunday morning to pick up the large bouquet for the sanctuary in honor of mom’s birthday and all the other mother’s attending that day.
After dinner that evening, uncle Buster and aunt Phyllis took mom back to WC and said their goodbyes. They were leaving the next morning from their motel. The rest of us had one last day together before our family had to leave for home. We brought mom out for lunch and more gadding…..then I fixed a meal that evening. Aunt Inabelle and aunt Sally took mom back, later, and said their goodbyes. They were leaving in the morning and I had to go back to work.
Those times take a lot of work, before, during and after but somehow I never remember all of the effort. I only remember the pleasure it brought mom, the warmth from loving relatives and the joy of coming together for the few days we had. How quickly I would do it all over again just to see those dear faces………
Until tomorrow,
Essentially Esther
