Something You Taught Me

Morning Mom,


       Home from work again. I remember when you lived in the subdivision across from Alexis’ school; I would call you two and three times a day just to talk about nothing in particular. Or if it was about something, I would talk about it every time I called you. That was one of my favorite things about you. No matter how much I talked about something, you never sounded or acted bored or uninterested. Driving home from class when I was in nursing school—especially the associate program—I would drone on and on about what we’d gone over in class that day. I got into too much detail about the pathophysiology of various diseases and disorders even though I knew you didn’t really care about it nearly as much as I did. But you knew that I learn by teaching and explaining to others. Teachers learn by teaching. Someday I plan to teach.

       You always listened and were nonjudgmental. I think you always had that quality; that’s why you were such a good social worker and therapist. All of the things you told me that you did: painting, photography, selling Tupperware, and being the alternate for the youth republican party in your younger days—they all helped to mold you into the person you became. I believe that the same is true for everyone. Our experiences, but more importantly, how we use those experiences, make us who we eventually become.

       You weren’t perfect, I know. But I still picture you as the perfect parent. I couldn’t have asked for anyone better. We had our differences but no matter what we argued about or how mad we were, you always made it a point to come to my room or find me wherever I was and put it all behind us before we went to bed for the night. So many could learn so much from your example. You had enough love and giving in you to raise 18 children and care for so many grandchildren and great grandchildren as well as friends whom you adopted as family and called “brother” and “sister” even though there was no familial connection. That’s another thing you taught me: family isn’t who you’re related to…it’s who you care about and who cares about you.

       Welp, I think that’s enough blathering out of me for this morning. I’m off to bed soon. Talk to you later.