I scanned this photo from a picture that is over 40 years old and, believe it or not, I haven’t photo-shopped, adobe-d or retouched it in any way.
The colors are bright and sunny, as if it were taken just yesterday.
Three generations – my grandmother, twin brother, my mom and me - pictured together in a moment of serenity, during a time of increased social protest, in the year the Pulitzer Prize was cancelled as the committee announced “no work was good enough.”
My mom was only 21 and had already experienced pain and seen enough blood shed to last a lifetime – more than her children ever would.
A promise, my grandmother knew, she couldn’t expect to keep.
Yet, my grandmother stood by my mother’s decisions (no matter how much, or how bad, it went against her grain) and helped her raise us and taught us, very early on, that no matter how difficult life got, there was always someone, somewhere, who was, “Suffering more than you’ll ever know.”
Little did I know – until today.
I pulled the chair closer to my mother’s hospital bed, so that I could reach over the tendrils of tubes and wires, to be able to spoon the broth into her mouth without spilling too much anywhere else.
She finished most of it, but she’d lost her appetite (with the onset of the fever) and her lips were feeling chapped and numb from the morphine (my brother said) so, I sat back as she lowered herself to a position that was as comfortable as one can get after having gone through a double knee replacement the night before.
Not very, without the morphine.
Long story short, it was a very long day (can it be Thursday, already?) but, today’s news that – although they could not regulate her heart rate, yesterday – there wasn’t any long-term damage that couldn’t be repaired.
At a later date, of course.
I leaned on the railing (after moving the morphine pump a little closer to where she could reach it) and asked my mother if there was anything else I could do for her.
Silence.
“Well, if it starts hurting again…don’t be a hero…give that sucker a push and take yourself a hit.”
She smiled.
Then, she motioned me closer and whispered something into my ear that…well, made me think about the photo.
“I just wanna see how long I can go…but, if it get’s too bad…I know YOU’LL push it for me!”
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This is a photo taken last weekend – right before my mom went into the hospital – and I swear, she hasn’t changed a bit!
Thanks, Mom – is it any wonder that I can’t do without this woman? – thanks for allowing me to grow and be the Mom that I am…I get it…but, I still need you…ya’ know.
Comments
32 responses to “Picture Perfect Thursday – Mom & Me”
This is such a beautiful post, Liz. I hope your mom feels better soon.
And now I need a tissue . . .
This is such a beautiful post, Liz. I hope your mom feels better soon.
And now I need a tissue . . .
Your post touched my soul!
Thank you!
Your post touched my soul!
Thank you!
{{{hugs}}} Very touching post Liz. I also teared up a bit. Please send {{{healthy vibes}}} to your mom from us.
{{{hugs}}} Very touching post Liz. I also teared up a bit. Please send {{{healthy vibes}}} to your mom from us.
Glad mom made it through (relatively) OK.
And it sounds like I now understand where you derived your excellent parenting skills from. 🙂
(You know, your PPT posts, always make mine seem sound trite by comparison. I’m not complaining. I’m just sayin’ 🙂
Glad mom made it through (relatively) OK.
And it sounds like I now understand where you derived your excellent parenting skills from. 🙂
(You know, your PPT posts, always make mine seem sound trite by comparison. I’m not complaining. I’m just sayin’ 🙂
This is just exquisite. And I’m really pleased to hear such a positive prognosis (I say as I head out the door to head to the hospital to visit my own relative on morphine). The photo meanwhile is amazing – how much you look like your mom did and how much she looks like her mom. Those are some strong woman genes in your family! I bet she’ll do just fine.
This is just exquisite. And I’m really pleased to hear such a positive prognosis (I say as I head out the door to head to the hospital to visit my own relative on morphine). The photo meanwhile is amazing – how much you look like your mom did and how much she looks like her mom. Those are some strong woman genes in your family! I bet she’ll do just fine.
This made me all weepy. I bet I’d love your Mom. 🙂
This made me all weepy. I bet I’d love your Mom. 🙂
Oh, yeah. Totally understanding the mother-adoration vibe. I just wrote about mine last week, wishing I could just form a family commune.
*sigh* I’m glad you have that, too. It’s a precious, precious thing, that I really believe we pass right on along.
Oh, yeah. Totally understanding the mother-adoration vibe. I just wrote about mine last week, wishing I could just form a family commune.
*sigh* I’m glad you have that, too. It’s a precious, precious thing, that I really believe we pass right on along.
A double knee replacement… ouch. Your mom looks like a strong woman; I’m sure she’ll be herself in no time. She’s lucky to have you there for her.
Beautiful family!
A double knee replacement… ouch. Your mom looks like a strong woman; I’m sure she’ll be herself in no time. She’s lucky to have you there for her.
Beautiful family!
I’m sure you’ve compared those two photos side by side, but wow – you look just like your Mom and your Mom looks just like your Grandmother.
Beaautiful post. Best wishes to your Mom for a speedy recovery.
I’m sure you’ve compared those two photos side by side, but wow – you look just like your Mom and your Mom looks just like your Grandmother.
Beaautiful post. Best wishes to your Mom for a speedy recovery.
I love the story and photos. Best wishes to your mom. I know she is a strong lady and is going to have a speedy recovery with such a wonderful family (and daughter) supporting her!
Take care (of you, too!)
I love the story and photos. Best wishes to your mom. I know she is a strong lady and is going to have a speedy recovery with such a wonderful family (and daughter) supporting her!
Take care (of you, too!)
Beautiful!!!
It will be shared with everyone reading the Carnival of Family Life on Monday.
Beautiful!!!
It will be shared with everyone reading the Carnival of Family Life on Monday.
I loved seeing both photos and reading your tender experience. I almost didn’t make it through the post – a little too close to home. I HATE watching our parents go through age/health and other disabling hurts.
Hugs,
Holly
Holly’s Corner
Here via the Carnival of Family Life. ;o)
I loved seeing both photos and reading your tender experience. I almost didn’t make it through the post – a little too close to home. I HATE watching our parents go through age/health and other disabling hurts.
Hugs,
Holly
Holly’s Corner
Here via the Carnival of Family Life. ;o)
It’s great to see the old picture and compare it to the more recent one.
My aunt recently found a lot of pictures of her siblings when she was young. It was very cool to see all of my aunts and uncles as children.
And when I have kids, it will be cool for them to see those old pictures as well.
pEace,
Gabriel
It’s great to see the old picture and compare it to the more recent one.
My aunt recently found a lot of pictures of her siblings when she was young. It was very cool to see all of my aunts and uncles as children.
And when I have kids, it will be cool for them to see those old pictures as well.
pEace,
Gabriel
Wonderful post and fantastic pictures!
Wonderful post and fantastic pictures!
I hope your Mom gets better soon. There’s nothing harder than seeing your parents in the hospital.
Great photos!
Here via Carnival of Family Life.
I hope your Mom gets better soon. There’s nothing harder than seeing your parents in the hospital.
Great photos!
Here via Carnival of Family Life.