Today is my Mom's birthday. I take comfort in knowing that she is surrounded by family that she missed so much.
One very hot July day when I was five Mom decided that the wild roses in the back yard were growing out of control and had to be trimmed. It could not wait for a cooler day. It could not wait one second longer. I don't actually remember this event but heard the story so many times that it has become a memory.
As the story goes, at some point after working too hard in the July heat, Mom collapsed. She was able to tell me to get my Dad, who was at his grocery store a short walk from the house.
Some time later, he came to find her passed out in the heat with me sitting quietly beside her, stroking her hair.
After getting her into the house and cooled down, she recovered. Thank Goodness !
When she was up to the challenge she asked me why I hadn't gone to get my Dad.
" I thought you were dead and I didn't want to leave you alone."
She was stubborn, and strong and although she rarely said it, we knew we were loved. The strength that she gave to me, was a strength I didn't know I had until I had to face fears that I hadn't known existed.
There is no greater treasure than the love between a mother and her daughter.