Upon the subject of Mother's Day

For the past four years, I've avoided the "Mother's Day" section of the card aisle as if it had the infamous "plague".  In year's prior, I had always searched for the perfect card to send to my mom.  When I say "perfect" that didn't mean that it had to be expensive or mushy~that the verse inside HAD to rhyme perfectly.  The "perfect" card was sometimes the most simple one and for dang sure it never referred to her as "MOTHER".  :)  She wasn't fond of being called anything but "mom" and I always honored that when I purchased my yearly Mother's Day greeting for her.


When Mom died, two weeks after her September 12th birthday in 2007, the Mother's Day tradition died with her.  Even though I was a "mom" to my own three children, it didn't seem right to celebrate without her.  When my kids (Ricky, Grahame, and Ursela) would ask me how I would like to spend that special "2nd Sunday" in May, I'd always have some excuse, some really good (LOL) reason why we should just skip it that year.  Most of the time it worked to say that~seldom were they ever able to surprise me.  I missed my mom and in my own way of thinking, if she couldn't be here to celebrate, well then why should I?  Kind of pathetic, isn't it?  It's ok to say "yes" because even I admit it. 


This coming Sunday, May 13th, marks the day on the calendar when folks pause and remember the woman who gave them their life.  Cards will be purchased, roses delivered, meals enjoyed together at favorite restaurants, and long distance phone calls will be made.  This year, on the 5th anniversary of mom's passing, I have decided that "enough is enough."  It's time for me to start observing the tradition once again.


Can I ask you to do something?  Take a moment and think about all of the women who, in one way or another in your life, have had a profound influence on you.   If you are like me, then there have been a plenty.  Perhaps it was your grandmother or one of your favorite aunts.  It could have been your 5th grade teacher or the secretary at the high school who always "took a liking to you."  Maybe it was the sweet little old lady who lived next door or even the ultra-bossy "Gladys Kravitz" type woman who watched you tarrying along the way to school each day and opened up her door to yell out to you, "Hey little girl...you better get a move on!"  Chances are very good that there have been total strangers, angels in your midst that you didn't even notice, who have kept a close watch on you, lest you got hurt or lost along the way.  So it's a pretty good chance that if you were to buy a card for every woman who has at one time been like a mother to you, well then, the card aisles would be totally bare by now.  And what a testament to the love and kindness we have all been blessed with from those women who, in spite of it all, loved us dearly. Did you think of some?  I sure did and the list could go on and on.


Friends, I encourage you to say "Happy Mother's Day" this year to someone who made an impact upon your life.  No cards, flowers or fancy gifts are needed by the way.  I think all women would just be thankful for the gift of "your time" instead of some fancy and expensive gift from the Mall or flower shop.  Wow, imagine that~a present that doesn't cost anything but just the time you spend putting into it.  


I want to take a moment to thank all of the women who have made a difference in the life of Peggy Ann Scott Miller~mom, grandmothers, aunts, sisters, teachers, neighbors, other family members and friends.  And oh yes, even the total strangers that have been sent my way to make life's very rough and rocky road so much easier to travel.  Would not have gotten this far in my 56-year old life without you dear family and friends.


We were blessed to be with our mom as she passed from this place unto the next.  A few hours before she left us, while she was still semi-coherent, she gave me the most beautiful and precious gift that any daughter could have asked for.  As I sat on the foot of her bed, she opened her eyes for a moment and looked straight into mine.  She said, "Peggy Ann, you are a good girl."  That my friends was the last thing she said to me and to this day, I can pause and remember what her voice sounded like as she said it to me.  In two hours, she was gone.


If I could send a message to my Mom, I would choose to tell her this.....


"I have tried my best to continue to be the "good girl" that you told me I am.  Thank you for raising me up to know that when times happen that I slip and fall or make a bad choice, that it doesn't mean I have to stay that way.  I have learned to be a "survivor" Mom and I learned it by watching you.  Thank you for teaching me life's lessons, even though many of them were learned the "hard way" by me.  I was child #6 Mom and you were 35 years old....yet you loved me enough to "keep me" and bring me into the world and HOME to a very loving family.  It couldn't have been easy, but you did it any way!  I miss you and Daddy but I know that someday we will see each other again in Heaven.  For that day, I will rejoice.  Happy Mother's Day "up there" Mom!  Your "little girl" is fine and loves you very much, even still."  

Mom and Grandma Scotty~two women who loved me very much.  I am who I am this day because of them.  And you know what, I wouldn't have had it any other way.  

Me as the "baby", little sister Cindy would follow two years later.  She gave "life" to 7 of us and would have gladly "given" her life for any of us.  Love you Mom~now and always!