Thanks Mom!
"Don't judge her intellect by the size of her shadow."
Her yearbook said, “Don’t judge her intellect by the size of her shadow.”
My mom left an abusive home as a teenager and ended up serving breakfast in a small cafe in Pensacola, FL where she met a young Naval aviator. I can only imagine the flirt and the first date, I wasn’t there.
Oh how I wish I could talk to her now about it but don’t worry, she lives on in my and my sibling’s hearts.
On Dec 7th, 1941, only about two weeks prior to her joining my Dad at Pearl Harbor Naval Air Station, those plans were scuttled and she developed an ulcer while dad was recovering from having taken shrapnel in the back while he was preparing for her arrival at their newly acquired officer’s housing. After, she birthed and raised a boy and a girl past the toddler stage while Dad was in the Pacific flying PBY’s and servicing them from the USS Norton Sound, then a seaplane tender.
After the war ended, the still young couple decided they had had enough of military life and walking away from a pension, Dad left the Navy. They sold their home in San Diego, bought a Jeep and headed north with their two kids who were still adjusting to their Dad being home. Scraping together a down payment, they bought 221 acres at the end of a dirt road in Southern Oregon and a tractor. They built a woodshed into a home using lumber cut from their property, Mom working right beside Dad the whole time.
One icicle cold November day Mom was driving the Tractor and the next morning headed to the nearest hospital, about 30 miles away with my Aunt, Dad and kids. I came into the world that day. Against doctor’s strict advice, Mom kept me so that Dad could experience bringing up a baby.
She was a force with which to be reckoned. Tiny, beautiful, and stronger than most men both in her body and will. I remember her today with admiration, reverence and all the love I have. You will never be forgotten Mom! Thank you for everything.
So sweet!