Sunday was
Mother's Day and I wonder if you took time to let your mother know how much you
appreciate her?
My mother passed
away in 1976 at the very young age of 57. Last May 1st was the first
day I lived to be older than her. Since then, I've thought of my mother often.
The truth is,
although she wasn't what anyone could term affectionate, I miss her. I wish I
had paid more attention as she spoke about our heritage, as she told me tales of
her mother and father and growing up during the Great Depression and what it was
like to be a young woman in love during World War II.
She met my
father while she was a nurse in training, during the war. He was the sole
support of his own mother, and he didn't pass the medical for
enlistment—although I have no idea why. He worked as an orderly at the hospital
where she took that training. They married in secret on May 29th,
before her graduation, as in those days only unmarried women could attend
nursing school.
I wish I knew
more of her and my father's love story, and more details of their lives, their
growing up years and just starting out years.
My father died
13 years before my mother. They'd barely had 20 years together, and after he
passed, my mother rarely spoke of him. Neither did she ever even look at another
man.
Because I was so
young when my father died, my mother became the center of my young life. She
once told me, years later, that one of the reasons she never considered dating
or the possibility of marrying again was that she didn't want to turn her life
over to a man to run. She had become used to doing things herself and for
herself. That statement had shocked me, because I never imagined she looked at
marriage that way.
My mother cooked
and sewed; she was a registered nurse, working full time; she could cut the
grass, fix a toaster, and made wooden valances for over the windows in our
living room.
I grew up
believing that women could do whatever they set their minds to because of the
example my mother set, and I understand now it was an example she set only
because of the vagaries of fate.
My mother had a
wry sense of humor, and a very agile mind. She didn't often say a negative thing
about a person. One time, when I heard her make such a comment about a woman who
was the wife of my late father's best friend, I chided her by saying, "everyone
has a bad side." My mother's retort? "All the way around?"
My mother was a
wise woman, one who had good people skills, and a good insight into human
behavior. She also gave me the best advice I ever received when I was only 17
years old.
She came to my
high school for a meeting with the guidance counsellor and my teachers. The
reason was that my marks had suffered as a result of my having been off for a
few weeks—I'd had a fractured ankle that had been surgically set with a pin, and
the doctor felt I needed to stay home.
One of my
teachers was a sarcastic fellow, one with whom I didn't get along. After the
meeting, when it was just me, my mom, and the counsellor, my mom sat quietly as
she stared at the chair where this man had sat. Finally, she pointed to the
chair and said, "The minute he opened his mouth, I knew he was an
asshole."
Strong language
from mom, a woman who rarely swore. Then she said, "Unfortunately, Morgan, the
world is full of assholes, and nine times out of ten when they come into your
life, they are going to have some authority over you. So you need to
learn how to deal with them."
Wise words
indeed, and advice that I have never forgotten, and ever found
useful.
Love,
The only dream I've ever had was to be a published author. It was a dream formed in childhood, and held on to through the business of growing up. Life intruded, as life does, and my dream was put on hold. But now, through hard work, faith, and luck dream has evolved into reality.
Romance is a wonderful genre that accommodates every other. Comedy, mystery, paranormal, suspense, or science fiction, romance embraces them all. Erotic romance gives all of that, and so much more.
For readers who want all the best traditional romance has to offer – great characters, compelling stories and a happy ending – and who crave that extra bit of heat – I invite you to read one of my novels and let me know what you think!
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