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{Straight From the Heart} *MY MOTHER'S DAY ROUTINE* 5/12/00
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MY MOTHER'S DAY ROUTINE
By Lynn Lombard
Mother's Day is approaching. It hits me the same each year. I
become a little sad as the day begins, but it always ends with a
smile on my face.
My husband and I will get up in the morning and follow our yearly
routine. Our first stop will be the cemetery. We will travel the long
paved road, stop the car and walk the rest of the way. Down the small
pathway and near the fence will bring us to my mother's grave. I'll
set some flowers on top of the stone and clean up the tall grass
around it that the cutting crew always seem to miss. While I'm there,
I will have a short, silent talk with her to tell her how much I love
her and to wish her a Happy Mother's Day. I don't stay there long.
There really isn't any reason to. All day I keep her in my heart, just
like I always do.
We'll leave the cemetery and I'll feel better after having gone to
"see" her. As we drive out and pass by the thousands of other graves,
I'll notice all the people, dressed in their spring outfits, doing the
same as I. Some will be new to this journey as I witness them wipe a
tear from their cheeks. Me, I'm not a newcomer at all. I have been
coming to the cemetery for 18 years now, since I was six years old.
When we exit the cemetery, I'll begin thinking about the present.
The reason I don't stay sad on Mother's Day is because I have another
mother to celebrate - my step mom. On our way to see her, I'll ponder
thoughts about how wonderful she's been to me and my other siblings
while growing up. She's been my mother for 17 years now; I've always
called her mom and have thought of her as nothing but my mom.
We'll go to her and dad's house and do what we always do -- sit
and talk. She'll inquire about the cemetery, asking how the gravestone
looks. She's always been great that way, her heart of gold always
shining through.
When we were younger, I remember her punishing us for something
bad we did, and after a couple hours of feeling guilty, she would let
the punishment slide. But she always let us agonize a little bit about
it, to learn our lesson and think about what we did wrong.
She wasn't always the easiest to get along with when I was
younger. But as I matured, I realized how wise she was. Even before I
moved out of the house and got married, she had already become one of
my best friends. She's always been there for me, no matter what.
We have an ongoing joke in our family about my being her favorite
kid. I know that I'm not. She loves us all the same because we are her
children. But I do think that I understand her the best. I was the
youngest child, and alas, the one who lived in their house the
longest. We had more time together to strengthen the bond we share.
This doesn't mean that we didn't fight. Sometimes I would be so
mad at her that I would cry, mostly because her opinion meant so much
to me. But we always got passed it. Now that I'm married and out of
the house, sometimes she makes me feel guilty about not coming to see
her more often (even though I'm probably the one child who makes a
point to do so). I've realized it's because she misses me, and because
she loves me just as much as I love her.
She may not be my birth mother, but she's been a mother to me in
every sense of the word. She's always treated me like her own and I'm
grateful for that. I will continue to thank God (and my Mom up above -
I'm sure they discussed it in Heaven) each day for bringing her into
my life.
And so this Mother's Day, I will get through it just like every
other year - by feeling tremendously proud to have been blessed with
the gift of having two mothers - all in one lifetime.
Lynn Lombard
ddlandlml@gateway.net
Send Lynn an email and let her know what you thought of her story!
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Lynn is a writer and legal administrative assistant who lives in
Akron, New York with her husband, Douglas. She is the author of two
previous Straight From The Heart stories.
To read another story written by Lynn, go to:
www.themestream.com/gspd_browse/author/view_author_info.gsp?auth_id=40822
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Thought For The Day:
"Character is much easier kept than recovered."
(Thomas Paine)
Verse for the Day:
"...in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity, show yourself an
example of those who believe."
1 Timothy 4:12
Kid's Thought For The day:
"Picking your nose when no one is looking is still picking your nose."
Parent's Thought For The Day
After pregnancy:
"People said I'd slim down quickly. Nobody told me it was because I'd
never have time to eat."
Coach's Thought For The Day
The only difference between a champ and a chump is "you".
Deep Thought For The Day:
"My son is proof that anyone can be successful enough
to drive a BMW or Mercedes. And besides, he looks
so cute in his valet parking attendant uniform."
(One proud mom)
_
/_/\/\ MICHAEL T. POWERS
\_\ / THUNDER27@aol.com http://members.aol.com/Thunder27/index.html
/_/ \ "For I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but
\_\/\ \ Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body I live for the Son
\_\/ of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." Galatians 2:20
Video Imagery (Michael's Video Production Business)
"I thought of you first after my family sat down to watch the video
we gave them. They loved it, to say the least! Within thirty
seconds my mom was crying and my dad did too. They said it was
the best Christmas gift we could have given them!! You did such
a beautiful job! They were so suprised and so touched---they
really, really, really loved it. Thanks for helping to make it so
special to us all. My mom mentioned how the songs were perfect for
the video too! Thanks again!"
Kelli (RKaGe@aol.com) College Station, TX
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