“As mothers and daughters, we are connected with one another. My mother is the bones of my spine, keeping me straight and true. She is my blood, making sure it runs rich and strong. She is the beating of my heart. I cannot now imagine a life without her.”
-from Summer Island by Kristin Hannah
I’ve talked about my mom before on this blog, but I think the most important person in my life is worth multiple discussions.
My mom during one of the many family visit weekends. We go to the Crescent Cafe on Third Street every time my parents visit.
My mother works as a secretary for my father, who is a public defender in King County. She works from home. Most of her work involves billing, filing, organizing, and sending emails. My dad is legally blind, and cannot do most computer tasks on his own.
This sounds pretty mundane, I know. But if you ever have the pleasure of meeting my mother, you’ll understand that there are few women who are so kind, loving, generous, and open-hearted.
Whenever I come home, I bring a friend (or a few) with me. Usually these are people who don’t have a place to go for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or even the entire summer. My mom doesn’t even bat an eye––suddenly we have extra towels, a blow up mattress, and all of my friends’ favorite foods.
From my birthday dinner at Departures this past September. My mom matched the decor.
She cooks for 300 people twice a month for our church breakfasts. She invites our neighbors who are lonely in to our home, even when it would be easier to send them away. She sends cards and bakes cakes and will do anything she can to help, no matter who she is helping. She hires those who are considered unemployable to do renovations on our home, rather than hiring someone with a resume and a clean criminal record. She packs extra sandwiches for my father to give to the homeless men sitting outside the courthouse.
Her heart is open, and her soul is generous. I’ve never met someone more loving. All I can do is detail her acts and describe who she is, and it isn’t enough to show her love. But of all the people I admire, I most want to be like her.
Thanks for stopping by.
Featured photo taken by me. Every August, our church holds a barbecue for our community. My mom does all the cooking, grilling, and pie making. I drove back to Seattle to chop celery and peel hard boiled eggs with her.
Beat Notes 