dagblog - Comments for "Honor thy mother (and grandmother)"

Thank you, C'Ville. The

wwstaebler — Tue, 11 May 2010 20:49:26 +0000

In reply to Honor thy mother (and grandmother)

Thank you, C'Ville. The process started when my sister and I had to sort and pack and apportion her worldly goods. When I went through her books, and found a lifetime of margin notes that revealed what issues were on her mind at a given time, and then matched that up with memories of that time, it began to fall into place.
Have you now had that same "oh--so that's why" experience in going through your mother's things, and in downsizing your own?

She also reared a wonderful

CVille Dem — Mon, 10 May 2010 21:58:23 +0000

In reply to Honor thy mother (and grandmother)

She also reared a wonderful daughter. Thank you for sharing this story. Someone told me once that if you find fault in someone, try empathizing with them so you can figure out how they got there. It isn't easy to do, and especially with the mother/daughter baggage that is always present. You really did this, Wendy, and I admire all the work it took to get to the point that you could put it into such a beautifully written piece.

Thanks to you all for your

wwstaebler — Mon, 10 May 2010 18:46:41 +0000

In reply to Honor thy mother (and grandmother)

Thanks to you all for your kind responses. I'd just like to add a few more facts about my mother.
Once my dad got back from the war, she never worked again. But she threw an equivalent amount of energy into supporting him in his career. Despite the fact that she was an introvert at heart --she was constantly throwing dinner parties for his bosses and out-of-town clients (a chore for her because she hated to cook) charming whomever needed to be charmed with the witty repartee she had inherited as a skill from her own mother.
And she was tireless in her devotion to the community. For thirty years, Mondays were for volunteering at the hospital; Tuesdays for being a docent at whatever museum needed free help; Wednesdays were devoted to the library (she even drove a book mobile when we lived in the country) and so on.
She was also a passionate Democrat her entire life and, to her real credit, an early and vocal (for her) supporter of civil rights.
Last but certainly not least, she was a consistently generous and loving grandmother, finding her maternal instinct and hitting all the right notes with her two grandsons and three granddaughters.
Rest in peace, Mamma. You earned it.

What a great memoir and

SleepinJeezus — Mon, 10 May 2010 15:42:18 +0000

In reply to Honor thy mother (and grandmother)

What a great memoir and tribute. People are such complex creatures, no?

Thanks for sharing!

I liked the idea that

wendy davis — Mon, 10 May 2010 13:50:40 +0000

In reply to Honor thy mother (and grandmother)

I liked the idea that Southerners are often accompanied by their forebears, invisible friends walking with them, reminding them of their histories.
Great memoir, Wendy.

Thanks for sharing this

miguelitoh2o — Mon, 10 May 2010 10:00:45 +0000

In reply to Honor thy mother (and grandmother)

Thanks for sharing this beautifully written memoir of your mother Wendy, and happy mother's day to you as well.

One heck of a Mother's Day

tlees2 — Mon, 10 May 2010 03:57:01 +0000

In reply to Honor thy mother (and grandmother)

One heck of a Mother's Day story, Wendy. I'm sure your mom would be proud that you shared it.

I'm glad that you have been

stillidealistic — Mon, 10 May 2010 03:51:28 +0000

In reply to Honor thy mother (and grandmother)

I'm glad that you have been able to finally see, and appreciate your mother as the complete person she was. I'm not there with mine, and not sure that I have the energy to even try. I may just have to be content with doing better, and leaving the rest to God.

Wonderful story, Wendy. Thank you for sharing.

Wonderful tribute, wendy I

Bwakfat — Mon, 10 May 2010 03:44:51 +0000

In reply to Honor thy mother (and grandmother)

Wonderful tribute, wendy

I am sorry i didn't see this sooner. It is amazing how our parents change as we age, or maybe I mean how our perspectives change.

Something changes.

I've never rec'd one of my

wwstaebler — Mon, 10 May 2010 02:43:18 +0000

In reply to Honor thy mother (and grandmother)

I've never rec'd one of my own bogs before, but this one, imo, deserves a better fate than going down to spam.