Saying Goodbye

Today we said goodbye to my mother, as we celebrated her 97 years of life on this earth. She had such a great life, nothing fantastic or dramatic, just a simple life devoted to family, with a wonderful attitude and a quick smile. She loved people, and lived life with zest and enthusaism.
Two weeks ago, mother had a stroke, and steadily declined since then, until, on Friday, July 19, she just peacefully slipped away.
Today, the family she loved so much gathered to celebrate her life. My son in law, Doug, lead the service and shared so sweetly about her heart and her life. Mother commited to make the best of any situation. A few weeks ago, after talking about her desire to just get a little apartment with one bedroom, and a kitchen so that she could cook, she finally turned to me and said, "I'm not going to leave this place, am I?" I said, "No, mother, your not going to leave." She replied, "Well, I'll just make the best of it then."  That was her attitude the last year as she lived in the nursing home, surrounded by strangers, with no independence. One day last year, as I was leaving, I asked if she wanted me to leave her in the living area, or take her back to her room. She said, "Take me back to my room and I will pretend to be happy." She really tried to be happy and postive while her situation was difficult and her body grew weaker. Although she badly wanted to leave the nursing home, she also never wanted us to feel quilty about her having to be there. She cared about our feelings more than her own.

My mother did not try to teach me anything, but she influenced my life in huge ways, and I am very grateful. Today, Doug said that her influence lives on through her daughters, her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and many others. I agree.
Here are a few pictures of my mother from the last few years.

  

My mother maintained a postivie attitude. She did get mad, dissappointed, frustrated, and upset about things. But she refused to stay there. She chose to be happy and postive. She understood what few people do, that happiness is a choice that we make. Contentment is a discipline. Joy does not depend on our cirucmstances, but is a decisioin.
As I end the day of my mothers funeral, and end this post that is a tribute to her life, I will close the way she ended almost every phone call or visit, Mom, "We'll see you when we see you."