WHAT MY MOTHER TAUGHT ME

As I was preparing dinner this afternoon I suddenly thought of my mother. A pang of sorrow came as I miss her TERRIBLY!!! She has been gone over just over 11 years (June 28th) , but her influence lives on. I thought, as I was cooking, of how she taught me to cook, but I knew I could never come up to the excellence that she held in her kitchen. I have to laugh as I would ask her over the phone (she lived in Medford, Oregon) for a recipe. She would have them in her head and I would ask, "well how much of a "dash" of oregano (or some other spice/herb) She would reply, "oh I never measure...but just a pinch of this and that."

When she first became a bride she told me the story (in later years) of how she wanted to cook some rice for her and my father. She looked at the bag or box of rice and it didn't look like too much so she ended up cooking the whole thing. To her amazement she had to fill every empty bowl and pan in her home with cooked rice. She became a quick learner after that and she made sure she read the directions!

Mom never gave up her ability to cook her own way and put in her own additions even though we were poor growing up. My parents divorced around when I was 7 or 8 years old and after that we had a tough time. No car. Hardly any money. She had to work full time for a few cents an hour. We had to live with other families at times to survive.

Her freedom to cook in her own kitchen came later when life became happier and better for her. Because of my mother's enjoyment of cooking and sewing, I took six years of sewing and cooking classes in junior high and high school...Mom had giving me a love for those two arts and I wanted to know more. It paid off as I used to sew my own dresses, pajamas and then when I had children all got shirts, pajamas, and sweet little dresses for my only daughter Julie.

Not only did Mom teach me how to cook, but she also taught me: crochet afghans, cross-stitch, and her love of playing different games. But the legacy that my mother left with me and that I pass on to my children is that she had wonderful qualities that I try to emulate and put into practice. I want to share those with you.

My mother was honest, caring, kind, giving, shared all she had. She never said anything bad about anyone. She was humble. She would go out of her way to help someone. She was just devoted and committed to being a good person. She would try to give to my brother and I and she would go without. Sounds like a good mother doesn't it!!

When I think of her today...I think of her beauty both outer beauty and inner beauty...her dark hair and dark brown eyes. I think of her perfect lips and nose and her wonderful, infectious laugh. I think of her slender, beautiful hands with perfect long nails. I think of what those hands had done for hundreds of people throughout her lifetime.

I could write so much more...but let me just say that God blessed me with a choice, wise, loving mother and what I wouldn't give to be able to tell her one more time: "I love you Mom...you are the best. You are my ideal. Thank you for teaching, guiding and leading me. I adore you."

Please write and tell me what is one or more things you learned from your mother that you have passed or will pass on to your children.

Mimi's Thought for the Day: Learning new things, improving one's character, sharing and serving are among the reasons we are here on earth. We all have skills to teach and influence the lives of others. Reach out and lead others...it will help them and YOU.