Mother's Day

Once upon a time, in a small west Texas town, a princess was born.  Nelda was everything a princess should be: very smart, very sweet, and very beautiful.  She loved school and while maintaining excellent grades, she worked on the yearbook, sang in the choir, was in a social club and was a cheerleader. 

After high school, Nelda was off to college.  She attended for two and a half years before a financial crunch forced her to leave.  Then in true fairy tale style, she married her high school sweetheart, Jack, and set off for a life of adventure.

She spent the next 30 years as an Air Force wife and mother to three daughters, moving more than 16 times and on three continents.  Her most exotic stay was Seoul, Korea, but her favorite was Naples, Italy.

At the age of 40, the princess embarked on yet another adventure:  she returned to college to finish her education.  Her studies brought her to life in a whole new way.  She loved everything about her college experience: learning new things, helping people, pursuing her interests.  She graduated summa cum laude with a degree in speech pathology.  It was a high point in an already lovely life.

Eventually, the princess and her prince retired from their life of adventure and moved to a small town in southern Texas where they proceeded to live happily ever after.

Unfortunately, every fairy tale has to have a villain and this one is no exception.  In 2004, Nelda was diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease.  She was tragically young and within a few short years went from a vibrant princess to a mere shell of her former self.  First memory, then language, then mobility fell victim to this horrible disease.

My mom died on Good Friday, just six months after my dad.  Sister L and I were with her.  She went quietly and, as far as we could tell, without pain.  It was hard to lose the husk of what used to be my mother, but also a relief.

She is now free to laugh and sing and dance in my heart.  I love you, Mom. 
Happy Mother's Day.

 

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