You never cease to amaze me with your biting wit and commentary. The columns you once wrote for the Star from your tender heart always brought tears. What a beautiful tribute today to your mother. Take care of you, you are truly a Tucson treasure.
I often wish I had these feelings when I think of Mother.
After Daddy died, when I was quite young, any of those feelings died with him.
I have them for Daddy, as I sit here at an age he never reached.
Mother, a voice I can remember, even when she did not know mine. Her dementia had taken over by the time I was able to fly back home to Kentucky. I wanted to feel the way you describe as yours. I felt guilt for not being more loving to her. I did feel bad about her having dementia, with hallucinations that made her even more angry. I wanted to take away those blocks that took her memory. I hated that she (or anyone) had to be tortured in the worst possible way….. my job at the time was helping those with the same awful world of not understanding anything. But nothing evoked a Mom not just MOTHER. I hope wherever she may be she can forgive the things I have forgiven in her. I hope I will feel for the years she had alone and for being the one thing she was most angry about, being the later in life child who caused her detachment, yet reminded her of him.
Maybe a day will come in this life or another when we both may see what we were looking for but never found in each other.
Thank you for the beautiful words which tell me when my sons say Happy Mother’sDay Mom, I love you…. Are heartfelt & touch me so deeply.
Happy Mother’s Day to all who raised children and took the role of Mom with love & light. If you do not have these feelings and Mom is still around, try to find them NOW. Tomorrow may be too late.
Thanks, Fitz, for so gently refreshing my memory of the first voice I ever heard. It came with a County Clare brogue and a misty emerald whisper that somehow always smiled. I remember the kitchen table at the little house on Arcadia, not much bigger than the cottage she left behind in Ireland. I remember sharing the freshly baked Arroyo apple pie, the laughter, the stories of her beloved workplace, Millers Curio. (She once recognized the accent of a customer she was waiting on "a nice young fellow" as being from Liverpool. It took Mrs. Millers' daughter to exclaim "Peg do you know to whom you're waiting on" and my mother's second look at his credit card to verify that it was in fact this guy from England named Paul McCarthy "is he not good", she responded?) Thanks for giving me permission to revisit those memoirs.
Isn't it funny how as kids we never fully appreciate all the things our moms did to shape our lives in a positive and meaningful way until it's too late? Thanks, Catherine. And thank you, David, for reminding us to say 'thanks!'
Beautiful memories. Brought back thoughts and feelings of my mom. She died 58 years ago and joined my father in heaven. I was 22 and my world changed . Because of their love, support, and teaching by their actions I have survived and thrived in my life,
OMG! You have me crying too early this morning! My mom died in 1995 when I was 35. I couldn't wait to move out of the house after she moved us, just her and I (my dad died when I was 9, to Florida (from Long Island) when I was 15 and in the middle of 10th grade. Within 7 years I was married with a child and out of Florida. We talked on the phone every Sunday, but I only saw her 5 times after that, the last time was as she was dying. I didn't forgive her for moving me away from my other siblings and friends until that day.
You never cease to amaze me with your biting wit and commentary. The columns you once wrote for the Star from your tender heart always brought tears. What a beautiful tribute today to your mother. Take care of you, you are truly a Tucson treasure.
It is in your heart where it belongs and does not fade
Rejoice!!!
A more fitting tribute to a mother was never written my friend.
Beautifully said, my southern neighbor.
I often wish I had these feelings when I think of Mother.
After Daddy died, when I was quite young, any of those feelings died with him.
I have them for Daddy, as I sit here at an age he never reached.
Mother, a voice I can remember, even when she did not know mine. Her dementia had taken over by the time I was able to fly back home to Kentucky. I wanted to feel the way you describe as yours. I felt guilt for not being more loving to her. I did feel bad about her having dementia, with hallucinations that made her even more angry. I wanted to take away those blocks that took her memory. I hated that she (or anyone) had to be tortured in the worst possible way….. my job at the time was helping those with the same awful world of not understanding anything. But nothing evoked a Mom not just MOTHER. I hope wherever she may be she can forgive the things I have forgiven in her. I hope I will feel for the years she had alone and for being the one thing she was most angry about, being the later in life child who caused her detachment, yet reminded her of him.
Maybe a day will come in this life or another when we both may see what we were looking for but never found in each other.
Thank you for the beautiful words which tell me when my sons say Happy Mother’sDay Mom, I love you…. Are heartfelt & touch me so deeply.
Happy Mother’s Day to all who raised children and took the role of Mom with love & light. If you do not have these feelings and Mom is still around, try to find them NOW. Tomorrow may be too late.
Thank you again Fitz, you truly nailed it for me. This piece nearly brought me to tears.
Great tribute to your Mom filled with the longing to hear her voice and feel her touch.
This is lovely.
Thanks, Fitz, for so gently refreshing my memory of the first voice I ever heard. It came with a County Clare brogue and a misty emerald whisper that somehow always smiled. I remember the kitchen table at the little house on Arcadia, not much bigger than the cottage she left behind in Ireland. I remember sharing the freshly baked Arroyo apple pie, the laughter, the stories of her beloved workplace, Millers Curio. (She once recognized the accent of a customer she was waiting on "a nice young fellow" as being from Liverpool. It took Mrs. Millers' daughter to exclaim "Peg do you know to whom you're waiting on" and my mother's second look at his credit card to verify that it was in fact this guy from England named Paul McCarthy "is he not good", she responded?) Thanks for giving me permission to revisit those memoirs.
Oh, David, your Mother would be so proud of you!
Isn't it funny how as kids we never fully appreciate all the things our moms did to shape our lives in a positive and meaningful way until it's too late? Thanks, Catherine. And thank you, David, for reminding us to say 'thanks!'
Beautiful memories. Brought back thoughts and feelings of my mom. She died 58 years ago and joined my father in heaven. I was 22 and my world changed . Because of their love, support, and teaching by their actions I have survived and thrived in my life,
Absolutely beautiful, David.
Beautiful memories, beautifully retold.
OMG! You have me crying too early this morning! My mom died in 1995 when I was 35. I couldn't wait to move out of the house after she moved us, just her and I (my dad died when I was 9, to Florida (from Long Island) when I was 15 and in the middle of 10th grade. Within 7 years I was married with a child and out of Florida. We talked on the phone every Sunday, but I only saw her 5 times after that, the last time was as she was dying. I didn't forgive her for moving me away from my other siblings and friends until that day.
Beautiful message -- many thanks for a lovely Mother's Day gift!
Doggone it, I'm crying. Brings back memories for me from long ago.