A Tribute To Our Mother

My mother passed away on March 22, 2005
I loved her deeply; now she's simply gone.
All my life I'd known that I was loved,
Living in the circle of her arms.

I can't believe her love is not somewhere,
So strong it was, so much a part of me.
I feel it in the harsh salt of the sea
And in the stinging sadness of the wind.

I ride the waves along the rock-strewn shore.
No one watches me with fear and pride.
Now among the stars I am alone.
In her heart I had my only home.

-Nicholas Gordon

We lost our Mother a few days ago. I think making this tribute page is helping somehow with my personal grief. I have many fond memories of my Mother - long before she was diagnosed with Multiple Schlerosis or Thyroid Cancer. The picture you see above of our Mom was taken when she was 36. The only enhancement I have provided is the background. No one believes us when they ask. The assume it was her high school picture. She was a beautiful woman inside and out. I can't think of a more fitting tribute than to share with everyone the words my brother spoke at her funeral. It perfectly describes the fiesty, humorous woman we knew and loved.

 

 

From my Brother:

"Many years ago when we were all small, my father used to take us on vacation once a year up to where he worked, he was able to take us to work. He was a Forest Fire Observer on Hadley Mountain. Every year as kids we would go up for the week. He would load us all up in the jeep along with Mom.

One year Mom decided she was going to walk up that mountain. With the MS she knew it was going to be difficult, but she said "I am going to walk up that mountain George, I know I can do it" Sure enough, we would all start running ahead of her and Dad was in the jeep bringing up all the supplies for the week. Yard by yard a little bit at time, Mom kept making her way up that mountain. She would stop frequently to rest and Dad would stop and ask her if she was ok and told her she could get in the jeep any time, and he would be happy to drive her the rest of the way. "Nope" she would say... "I am going to walk up this mountain" And before we knew it Mom reached the summit. At least in our minds she did, but not in hers.

You see, when my Mom got to the top her legs started to give out on her. She told our father she couldn't go any farther. We all said don't worry Mom you made it. She said "No I didn't, I can't see the cabin yet" But she had reached the summit. The cabin sits off around a bend in the woods, but she couldn't quite see it. Her legs just wouldn't let her walk another inch. Dad said "Get in the jeep and I'll drive you" She got in the jeep and he started off and around the bend and she saw the cabin. She made a fist looked at Dad and said "George, I am going to give you a knuckle sandwich!" She was always good with one liners like that. That was one of her favorite lines. "Why didn't you tell me the cabin was right around the corner?" she said.

Mom always remembered that story and Dad would get a "knuckle sandwich". And she is probably giving him one right now, because now she is telling this story to Elvis. These last few years Mom had been sick with some things... and to us it seems like she still had been climbing that mountain, thinking she would never reach the top. She is standing up there right now....... shes on the summit looking down at us. She's proud and loves us all. "

We love you Mom, you will be greatly missed

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