Thursday, February 17, 2011

Happy birthday MOM!


1924

1966

2005


todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

that my Mom would have been 88 years old today. She was born in 1923 and died in August 2008. She was a major guiding influence in my life, her and my father having adopted me at birth. As a 50+ year old man in recovery, my finest moments were the 3 years after her major stroke, until she died. My living amends to her were to be present in her life, much more so than I had been while drinking. I became her primary caretaker and handled most details with my sister's assistance and approval. I visited her in hospital and in her nursing home numerous times each month, often just sitting by her bedside without her conscious knowledge of my presence. I think of her almost daily and miss her. But as a realist, I know she lived a full life and it was her time to go. She had a wonderful life.

for awareness not to make permanent decisions from temporary situations

for the generosity of my friends

Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.
- Mohandas (Mahatma) Gandhi




5 comments:

Syd said...

I hear you my friend. I miss my parents so much and think of them just about every day as well. They did what they knew how to do and in the long run, I turned out okay. I have no regrets. Sounds as if you are at peace with your amends also.

Mary Christine said...

Happy Birthday to your Mom.

What a blessing you were to her. I am so grateful you got sober while she was still alive.

I know you miss her.

Christina said...

How beautiful. My mom too was born in 1923, and died June 2009. She was my heart and life for so long. Thank you for the gentle reminder for the blessing in her that I had.

Todd HellsKitchen said...

God bless her.... And you... xo

Linda Bartee Doyne said...

It's funny that all those things we think are unrighteous when we are teenagers turn into the things we love our parents for in the end. No matter how many times I've said -- I won't be my mother -- I am so similar to her. Both my parents are gone now -- I am grateful to have been their child.

Linda (Immortal Alcoholic)