Sunday is Mother’s Day in the U.S. and that made me think about my mother. She passed away twenty-three years ago after a long illness. My husband met her, but our children never got a chance to know her. I often wonder what she would think about all the changes in the world since she departed–computers in almost every home, the internet, Facebook, blogs, cell phones, text messages, flat screen TV’s, reality television series, etc. Since she grew up in Germany during WWII, I think she would have been happy to see the Berlin Wall come down. There are even pieces of that wall on display at a university in a small town near us here in the U.S. That’s pretty amazing.
She’s missed out on so much–the births of her grandchildren and many, many Mother’s Days. I miss her.
9 Comments
ellaquinnauthor said:
May 12, 2013 at 2:18 pm
I’m so sorry your mom is no longer with you. Mine passed away a few years ago and I still miss her. Have a Happy Mother’s Day. I tweeted.
mariaconstantine8 said:
May 12, 2013 at 3:45 pm
Have a great Mother’s Day, Susan. Thanks for sharing your thoughts about your mother – and the photos. I lived in Germany for five years and have visited Check Point Charlie. The experience has stayed with me because of the way East and West Berlin felt so different despite the Berlin Wall no longer dividing Berlin. The first time I visited Berlin was about 15 years ago – and I was there last year.
Susan Finlay said:
May 12, 2013 at 6:29 pm
Thanks, Ella and Maria.
Arline Chandler said:
May 12, 2013 at 10:18 pm
I hope you’ve had a good Mother’s Day, Susan. I’m sorry that your children never got to meet their grandmother. Lee’s children were young when his mother died at age 70. Then their mother died at age 57, so some of his grandchildren never knew her. Those who were born were so young they don’t have strong memories of her. To seven of the ten, I’m the only grandmother that they have known.
I often think about the changes just in my life time–how when we traveled, we had to look for a pay phone just to call home–and that wasn’t too many years ago. The kids today do not know a world without computers or cell phones, texting, Facebook, and e-mail. My granddaughter–who is now a mother of three–could not believe that her Aunt Debbie had not videoed her wedding! In 1974, few–if any–people did that!
Susan Finlay said:
May 12, 2013 at 11:21 pm
Thanks, Arline.
James Garcia Jr said:
May 13, 2013 at 4:36 am
Very sweet. I spent much of the afternoon with my mom today. My wife lost her mother about 15 years ago. I rarely bring her up in a conversation because the wound is still way too fresh for her. Happy Mother’s Day to moms everywhere and *hugs* to all who no longer have their mother to hold these days…
-Jimmy
Susan Finlay said:
May 13, 2013 at 11:07 am
Thanks, James.
Sophie E Tallis said:
May 14, 2013 at 1:08 am
So, so sorry for you loss honey. Losing a mother has be like losing a part of yourself. I couldn’t imagine it. But whatever beliefs you may hold, I’m sure she’s been looking down on you and smiling, like your own guardian angel. She must be so proud of you. It’s just such a dreadful loss for you and for your family, especially for your children not to have known her. I guess it must make the memories you have of her, all the more precious. Wishing you a very special Mother’s Day, sweetie. 🙂
Susan Finlay said:
May 14, 2013 at 2:07 am
Thank you, Sophie.