A Very Special Mother's Day Hub - Gone But Not Forgotten

For those of you that read me often, you know that my Mother passed unexpectedly at a very young age of 56 years. With Mother's Day approaching, I thought it might be nice to celebrate by remembering some of the funny things my Mother did in her time here with us. Some are very short and quick memories but they somehow capture the essence of who she was so I included them.

This is not meant to be a perfectly formed article as much as a tribute to a woman that was dearly loved and will be missed on Mother's Day. I hope you enjoy reading these as much as I enjoyed writing them.

My Mom was always one to keep up with the times. (or try) This included trying to use all the latest slang and lingo we teenagers used at the time. On one fateful occasion, she was very angry at my brother for leaving yet another wet towel on her bathroom floor. As she backed him into a corner, she stuck her finger in his face and told him, "If you leave another wet towel on my floor, I will jack you off!" She was, of course, referring to the saying "Jack you up" but that was lost on the entire family as we rolled on the floor laughing.

My Mom was world famous throughout every kitchen for not being able to cook bread. She would burn the buns every single time. She was a gourmet cook in the kitchen, but when it came to pulling the rolls out on time, she just could not do it. I now love burned bread because it was all I knew.

My Mom was also famous for the best sweet tea in the neighborhood. Every kid in the city it seemed would show up at our door for that sweet tea. She would complain all the time but she once confessed to me that it made her feel special. She had no idea how special she was.

My Mom was one hell of a fireplug as well. I remember I was in kindergarten and got beat up by a child at school. My Mother got out a football helmet and some boxing gloves and taught me to take up for myself. She told me that she would never punish me for standing up for myself. The next day the same boy started another fight. I ended up flushing his head down the toilet, and was punished for defending myself. That day, my Mom kept her word and cussed out the Principal, the Teacher, the kid's Mother, and even the crosswalk cop. Nobody messed with her son.

My Mom was one to always be at every game throughout my sporting life. I played every major sport and had thousands of games. She never missed one that I remember. In the middle of our homecoming game, I was quarterbacking my high school football team to a win when suddenly I was sacked at midfield. The hit separated my shoulder and I was writhing on the field in pain. As I came to my senses, I look up and the first person I see is my Mom standing over me. She had run out on the field and had actually beaten the trainers there. My God was I embarrassed.

Over the years, so many memories flood my mind about her and all of them seem to be the "best" ones of the lot. She was a special woman to be sure, but she had an infectious way of forcing you to know she loved you. I never questioned my Moms love for me. That was a given and will always be.

On this Mother's Day, I want to let her know that given the chance I would love to be back out on that field with her standing over me. I would love to hear the laughter of the football players, and the staring of the cheerleaders at the captain of the football team and his Mommie. I would die to relive the moment that I stood up in front of thousands without my fellow teammates and trainers assisting me to the sideline but you instead. I would even relive the moment that I looked up and saw my Coach shaking his head at me in shame.

That moment, as embarrassing as it was, was a moment that I will forever hold in my heart as a moment that showed me what was important to a real man. Knowing and respecting mother's love.

I thank you for every moment that I was lucky enough to have been near you, and I love you Mom.

Happy Mother's Day