Memories of my Mother

I am feeling quite philosophical. For one thing, my mother died 10 years ago today. For another, tomorrow is my birthday (not great timing). While it sometimes seems that time is dragging, when I realize that it has been a decade since I last spoke to my mother, I am stunned. I have often felt that, in some inexplicable way, she is more present now than when she was alive. Today, as I think of her, I am rereading what I wrote 10 years ago. Every word still resonates.

First and foremost, my mother was her own person — a liberated woman long before anyone ever heard that phrase. She spoke her mind; she did her own thing; and she exhibited a strength few women I know can equal.

She lived every minute of her 91-1/2 years. She was bright, funny, engaging, and fully engaged in life. She celebrated every birthday as a gift and didn’t seem to notice her age until this past year. But even as she began to slow down a bit, she still managed to read a book a day.

She was intelligent, multi-talented, and capable. It always seemed to me that anything I could do, she could do just a little bit better — from knitting and sewing to finding mistakes in something I had just proofread.

She knew the value of education and went back to work twice to help send both of us to college. Her own education was a result of voracious reading and constant honing of her abundant skills.

She had a direct, personal relationship with God and talked to Him every day. She lived her Judaism in spirit and in deed and honored her own mother by keeping the Sabbath holy.

She had a razor sharp wit, an indomitable sense of humor, and a will of iron. Her face and gestures were eloquently expressive; her love of books was contagious; and her pride in everything we achieved propelled us through life.

She forged and sustained a tightly knit family and instilled in us a strong value system that we, in turn, have tried to keep alive for our daughters.

Most of all, she loved us — all of us — her husband, her daughters, her sons-in-law, and her three beautiful granddaughters. She loved completely, as she lived life, with spontaneous affection, generosity, and zest.

Of all the things she gave us over the years, the gift we will treasure most is her love.