Happy Mother's Day Mom!
As mother's day approaches I can only be awed by the blessing of the woman who is my mother.
At 86, she one of the most precious persons in my life and I will
always be grateful to her for the sacrifices she made for me, beginning
with leaving the only home she ever knew with only a dream of having a
better life in America.
My Mom and Dad grew up in Yugoslavia with not a lot of anything.
Although they lived in cities about 35 minutes apart, they actually
met in the United States. They each lost a brother during the war. My
Uncle Frank was only 21 when he was killed and my grandfather found out
about his death when a close friend of the family tapped on the window
and told him his son would not be coming home.
There is no question that they had a hard life growing up like so
many who eventually immigrated to the United States as my parents did.
Neither of my parents spoke any English when they got here and they
worked hard to learn the language. My father went to Fenn College (now
Cleveland State university) to earn his degree in civil engineering. He
was just finishing up shortly after I (the last of 4 ) was born. So it
was school, 4 kids, and work! One of his younger engineer friends to
whom my father was a mentor used to joke with him and tell him he had
broken English, but now after over 50 years here he has good broken
English.
My mom was a
stay at home mom who really took care of us. There was always ( and I
mean 7 days a week) a home cooked meal on the table, clean clothes, a
comfy bed, a modest but well kept home. As I got older, Mom
would have a hot cup of coffee waiting on the stove for me every
morning, which I let get cold by my refusal to get out of bed. But
there it was evey morning without fail. I was a pretty good kid but I
always blamed her when I couldn't find something and she would
patiently suggest places I might have left the item I was looking for.
My daughter occasionally does this to me too so now I know what it's
like to be on the receiving end. LOL
My Mom took care of the
finances, balancing "the books" every month. She was very fancy with
it...she used a spiral bound paper notebook! Each month she would write
down the amount of my father's paycheck and then enter every last penny
they spent. She almost always balanced either to the penny or with a
few cents. I cannot make that same claim to fame. I know I would be
appalled at how much we spend going out to dinner every month. But I
did learn from both my parents about how to save and not overextend
myself.
I really do believe I am who I am and have what
I have because of my parents. My husband and I have worked hard
throughout our lives but without the start our parents gave us and the
sacrifices they made we would not be where we are today.
Here
are a few pictures from our dinner last weekend at the Outback. At the
ages of 85 and 86, they still enjoy going out, shopping together and
going to daily Mass.
I will leave you with something my Dad said to me about my Mom after I was already married and out of the house.
"I
could dress your Mom in gold from head to toe and it would still not
repay her for all she has done for me and for you children"
Isn't that beautiful?
Happy Mother's Day Mom. I love you!!!!!!