Many of my friends complain about their mothers-in-law, but I feel so blessed to have had the one I had. Mom lived to be 103 years old. She was a remarkable woman, having served as a WAC in the Army as a nurse during World War II and raised four children. She was the glue and the strong pillar, a guiding light for her family. Jay’s sister, Janice, prepared a video of pictures for the memorial we had on June 14th. The wonderful history below was included:
I never had the privilege of meeting Jay’s dad. He passed from cancer in 1981, and Jay and I met in 1993. I’ve always felt like I missed meeting an interesting and funny man. When Mom J was younger, she was lively and active, well into her 90s. They met and married while both were in the military.
I married late in life. Mostly because I was very ambitious in my career and worked long hours. And, Ladies, let’s face it, good men are not easy to find. Especially when you have limited personal time. I met my husband on a blind date, and neither of us was interested in the other. Jay chose to pursue me anyway, and seven months later, we were married. I was thirty-three and he was thirty-five at the time. We were married the first time by a Justice of the Peace in Estes Park, Colorado. That is the anniversary we celebrate, July 4th. I like to say that he is the only man who ever made me see fireworks! And for the first couple of years of our marriage, I would introduce him as my first husband. That got a lot of looks. Then I would add he was also my second and third. That’s because we kept our original “big” wedding date of October 8th that same year, which we had already paid for, including my wedding dress. And we were sealed for all time and eternity in the Holy Temple of our faith a couple of years later. His mother would tell me,
“I never thought Jay would marry someone like you.” I felt blessed. She liked me, and I liked her. We had a lot in common in our tastes and some in our personalities. And she adored our only child, Shiloh, with all her heart. She always asked about them and remembered their birthday. She loved it when we visited, and she got cuddles from them. And Shiloh loved their grandma with all their heart. She was the grandparent they were closest to.
I’m not sure whose house they were at, but that’s a cat on Shiloh’s lap. My child loves animals, particularly cats.
When we visited and talked, from around the time she was in her late eighties, she’d tell me she didn’t know why the Lord kept her here, especially having lost her husband so long ago, when in his early 60s. I told her it’s because her family still needed her. But she was clearly ready long before she was granted her eternal peace.
She took in foster children, loved to garden, grew up on a farm (which I believe contributed to her long life), and kept busy well into her late 90s when we started to see her slow down. By her 100th birthday, it was clear she was beginning to suffer from dementia.
By her 101st birthday, she was no longer the same person, and it was a mercy that she was allowed to leave this earth two years later.
We were unable to be at her funeral. She would be proud that her grandson, Jacob, attended her casket in uniform as a retired veteran. He’s on the left in the photo.
Thank you for your service, Mom and Dad J, and Jacob. Since the family knew we would be in Colorado Springs in May, arrangements were made for a date in June that worked well for the teachers in the family to have a family memorial. A trip to Denver, Colorado, to the graveyard was planned.
Mom’s gravestone had not yet been placed, nor had the grass been laid over it.
After, we visited the neighborhood they all grew up in and the park where they played. Jay even made it into the newspaper when the dragon figure was placed, but they all called it a dinosaur:
All the old homes have been torn down, and new, very large houses have been built in their place. But the park still has the dragon, changed only by its now purple paint that was once green.
The entire weekend was spent with family we hadn’t seen in some time, since we had been living in Utah for Jay’s job. Being full-time RVers gave us the amazing opportunity to be here, the place that is home to us in the State of Colorado, to participate in the memorial and share the wonderful memories we have of an amazing woman.
Readers, cherish your loved ones. Mom lived a long life, but we never know when someone we love will leave this earth. Cherish them, tell them you love them, and be with them when you have the opportunity. That’s what life is really all about.
On Hummingbirds Wings 