Mother's Day Recall
by: Annette M. Hall
Born — September 19, 1943
Died — June 29, 2012
I've come to the conclusion that it's just wrong to celebrate Mother's Day. Women should feel insulted by the very implication that it gives.
My Grandmother, may God rest her soul, was a very strong, very proud woman. She lost both her parents at a very young age, her mother when she was just 2 years old and her father at the tender age of 5. As an orphan child, she was dependent on the generosity of family and friends.
The inheritor of castoff clothing during her young life, she more than made up for it in her later years. Her shoe collection would be the envy of any woman. Growing up I can remember her carefully coifed hair, always looking like she just stepped out of the beauty parlor, how regal she looked. Of course, I wanted to be just like her and she graciously would allow me to try on every peice of jewelry she owned, though I could see it was hard for her to allow.
I believe it was by God's grace that her mind went years before her body gave out because having to depend on others once again, would be more than she could bear. Through it all her daughter, my mother, was there and cared for her until the very last.
I inherited my Grandmothers spirit, her rebellious nature. It was easy for those looking in from the outside to label her hard and uncaring. It was hard to get to know her. If you were lucky enough to gain her trust and for her to allow you into her world, you could see the pain she carried with her. She had to prove to everyone, including herself that she was just as good as anyone and that she was worthy of love.
My mother left home at 16 and married young. It must have been difficult for her living with my Grandmother. It's easy to love someone and still have difficulty living with them as mothers and daughters every where can attest.
Having three young children in six years and losing one could not have been easy for my mother but she managed. We moved around a great deal when I was a child and mom always tried to make our new surroundings seem like an adventure. We didn't have a lot of material things as children but I don't ever remember us going hungry.
Mother's Day Ideas
Through the years my mother and I have had our disagreements, our ups and our downs but through it all, she has always been there for me when I needed her. She has never once let me down.
Thinking back today on our lives, I can't imagine how she managed to love and care for us all. It must have broken her heart when my brother died at 11 months of age. It was a senseless death one that should not have occurred and could have been prevented, if we could have afforded proper medical care in a timely manner.
Through all my surgeries and illnesses my mother was there, I don't believe she ever left my side and for that I am grateful. To this day, when I am ill, it's my mother I long for. I never realized until I got older that others don't wait on you hand and foot and try to make you comfortable the way a mother does. That's something only a mother can do. I can't drink a cup of warm Vernors today without thinking of my mother and the love she gave me during my many illnesses.
Today, I live in California and my mother just passed away in Michigan, in the town where she was born. I called her several times a week, sometimes every single day, but I don't think there is a day that goes by that she isn't on my mind and heart.
The thought of limiting Mother's Day to one day a year is just absurd to me. Did my mother limit showing her love to me, to only those days that were convenient for her? My mother was there for me, no matter the day of the week or the time of the day for that matter.
I think every day should be Mother's Day. We should all take the time out of our busy schedules to let our mother know just how special she is. There is no one on earth who will ever love you like your own mother does.
Mother's Day is Sunday, May 8th, 2016 for those who insist on setting aside only one day to honor good 'ole mom. Don't forget!
I'd like to dedicate this to all the wonderful mother's who have touched my life: My own Grandmothers: Irene M. Smith (Devers) and Allie B. Patrick (Miller), my Mother-in-law: Kyle S. Hall (Amey), Grandma Hall: Maureen K. Hall my beautiful daughter: Francine M. Simkus and especially my Mother: Jacquelyn L. North (Smith). Thank you for touching my life in a special way. Give your mom a hug today and tell her you love her often.
Those that have gone before...
Dora M. Robins
(died August 8, 1981)
Allie B. Patrick (Miller)
February 11, 1918 - October 16, 1983
Inez May Weaver (Chatfield)
(April 9, 1896 - September 20, 1984)
Janette Irene Hatch (King)
(June 8, 1936 - August 28, 1998)
Irene Marie Smith (Devers)
(March 14, 1917 - January 22, 2002)
Shirley Stannard (Patrick)
(December 23, 1944 - March 10, 2009)
Jaquelyn Louise North (Smith)
(September 19, 1943 - June 29, 2012)
Beverly Jane Gauze
(March 3, 1970 - October 20, 2013)
Maureen Kendrick Hall (Lord)
(May 24, 1928 - February 3, 2015)
Colleen Amey
( - March 16, 2018)
I love you Mom!
Updated: March 16, 2018
