In Her Youth

The young woman on the left in this old photo is Katherine, my mother. She's been on my mind a lot this week; tomorrow will be the seventh day since she left this world. My mother had lifelong faith in God, lived an exemplary life, raised three girls along with Dad, and was an inspiration to many.

To her right is her friend, Connie, followed by her younger sister, Delores. Delores married a man from Oklahoma and spent her life in that state with sporadic visits to her northern family. She died young in her late forties of a brain aneurysm, being granted her "oft-repeated" wish of never growing old.

As the eldest daughter my mother was taught responsibility by her parents at an early age, and lived her life accordingly. I wonder if mom's life lived up to the dreams of her youth? I'll never know...sadly, I never asked her. Unlike her sister she never wished to never grow old, even after caring for her mother who was transformed by Alzheimer's during the final twelve years of her life. When she entered old age, our Mother faced all the indignities of failing health and memory with grace and even managed a bit of humor now and then. Her vascular dementia made her more of what she had been in life, a good, kind woman.

Mom, I hope Heaven is everything you and Dad thought it would be. Rest easy. Your work here is done. We all miss you.