100

 

Today would be my Mother’s 100^th birthday.  She used to laugh and joke about how she was going to live to be 100.  Even though she died at 66 from a second round of cancer, I believe a part of her is still alive in my heart if nothing else. 

 

Mother in 1939, age 17

My Mother was born on March 1^st 1922.  She was the youngest of three children and the only girl.  When she was four years old her father died from appendicitis.  That was much more difficult to treat in those days, especially without the help of antibiotics.  After his death, her mother and the three children moved closer to family.  The love and support of family made all the difference for them.

 

Daddy, Mother, and
my oldest brother, Charlie, 1940's

Even though my Mother’s adult life was often challenging, she always loved her children and grandchildren more than anything.  She would sing fun songs that the children loved like “Mairzy Doats” and “The Purple People Eater”.  When I was a teenager she was always understanding and supportive of my interests.  By then she was sick much of the time and I often took care of her as much as I was able when I wasn’t in school. 

Mother's Day, 1965

I have so many memories of the little things about my Mother, such as some of the items she carried in her purse.  There was always Dentyne gum, a small tube of Blistix, a handkerchief, a compact, and lipstick.  She used Coty cologne and makeup and I still remember the scent of both.  She took great joy in simple things and loved gardening.  One of her favorite activities was getting together with as much family as possible and having a picnic at a creek or lake nearby.  You know, it’s the many little things we remember about our loved ones that we later realize were actually the big things.    

The Rocking Chair

I've inherited many small, yet special items from my Mother and Grandmother.  One such item is a small, hand carved toy rocking chair that belonged to my Mother.  Her Grandfather carved it for her when she was very young.  My Mother was born in 1922 so I would estimate the toy rocking chair is over 90 years old.  When I was growing up Mother always had the little chair on a shelf or somewhere around the house where she could see it.  It meant a lot to her since her Grandfather carved it for her and she loved him very much.  In turn it has meant a lot to me and I keep it on a shelf near my sewing machine.  I never knew my Great-Grandfather because he died before I was born, but I heard many wonderful stories about him as I was growing up. 

I don't know if it is just me or not but small items like this mean more to me than anything of any monetary value.  I love to hold it and think about it's history and how something so simple can come to mean so much.

My Mother between her two older
brothers in about 1926.

My Great-Grandfather that carved the
rocker and one of his other grandchildren.
(he lost his leg when younger and working with the railroad)

It's funny when we think about the things that come to be important to us.  Do you have any small, special items like this that have been passed down in your family?