Thankful For Mama

Today, I am thankful for my mama. She is patient and kind. She thinks of others before herself. She has an unshakable faith. I sure am thankful for her influence in my life and I sure am thankful we still have her here with us.

Mama is going to spend Thanksgiving with us at the lake, but if and only if I have her home by Saturday.....because she can not, she WILL NOT, miss church. And that is commendable. I'm just happy I can steal her away for a few days. Now that we don't live in Andrews anymore, my time with her is even more precious.

Today is the day of her six month check-ups with doctors. And my job is to get her to the different appointments. So, we make a day of it. We started in Andrews with her check-up there and then we drove over to Georgetown for the next. I like to take her to lunch, so between appointments we usually grab something to eat. But today, we have to go to Wal-Mart, first.

Ugh!

I hate Wal-Mart. I don't shop at Wal-Mart.......but, try telling that to mama. You may remember  a couple of years ago, when I lost mama in Wal-Mart.....what? You don't? Well go read that post here.

Anyway, at her last appointment today, they had to dilate her eyes and she could barely see to read the appointment card for her next appointment. So, she told the lady that she thought she and her daughter (that would be me) were in cahoots. Mama told the lady that I didn't want to go to Wal-Mart and since they dilated her eyes, she wouldn't be able to see to write a check at Wal-Mart. Bahahahaha!

Next, I asked her where she wanted to go for lunch and she said, "Well, since you don't like to go to the same place as I do, then I'll let you pick a place for lunch." After asking again, she told me that she likes Taco Bell. Hahahaha! I knew that! And she knows that I don't like Taco Bell. So we compromised and ate at another Mexican restaurant, instead.

So long story, short.....I took mama to Wal-Mart and she got her Mexican food....just not from Taco Bell. She was a happy mama, still!

And I'm still loving my mama,
Laurie

I Lost Mama in Wal-Mart



My mama doesn't drive. She depends on us kids to take her where she needs to go and I am so happy to be able to do that for her. Whenever she has doctor appointments, I'm the D.D. She is really good about scheduling them on the same day, for times sake. Yesterday, was one of those days.

Mama is in her 70's and is basically healthy. Although, she does have some bummed-up feet and ankles, which makes walking distances a little challenging.  But, she never complains, ever!

I picked her up promptly at 8 a.m. yesterday morning for her first appointment. Our usual thing is that I drop her off at the doctor's office and I go run a few errands and by the time I get back, she is usually finishing up. Yesterday, mama informed me that she had to fast for her first appointment, so she would be needing breakfast soon after. So, I offered to make breakfast for her at my house because I had some things I needed to do at home and that suited her just fine. We had breakfast and just hung out for a couple of hours until we needed to leave for the second appointment. Well, I say we hung out. She is one of The Weather Channel's biggest fans. And she was glued to the T.V. Have you ever tried to listen to two people at once? You look at the person talking to you and appear to be interested in what they are saying, but at the same time trying to hear what's happening on t.v. You turn your head quickly to catch a glimpse of the t.v. and then turn back to the person talking to you. And who knows which you heard or if you were even listening.  HaHa, well that's what mama was doing to me. She cracks me up!

Now, mama had already planned where she wanted to go for lunch because it was close to Wal-Mart and she needed to get a couple of things from there, if we had the time. She wanted to go to Firehouse Subs. She reminisced about how when daddy was alive, they went to Wal-Mart every Friday night and either went to Taco Bell or Firehouse Subs for dinner, afterwards. Only thing was, when we arrived there yesterday, Firehouse Subs was no longer open. It had disappeared, since her last trip to Wal-Mart, apparently. So she decided that since we were there, we should go to Wal-Mart first and then grab a sandwich from Subway when we were finished. She had already told me that she hoped to get out of Wal-Mart without buying anything other than what was on her list. She only had two things on it. And I jokingly told her that if she did, she was getting 50 lashes with a wet noodle. We were starting to push the envelope on time, but I didn't say anything. I wanted her to be able to do what she needed without feeling rushed. But, to expedite the Wal-Mart trip, she went one way and I went the other. I needed a couple of things, too. Mama told me that if she got finished before me, that she would just have a seat on the bench up front and wait.

I finished picking up the things I needed and scanned the check-out lines for mama but, didn't see her. I continued on through the check-out line and walked to the said bench and still no mama. So, I walked slowly to the car, unloaded my bags and decided to go back inside once more to look for her. I checked in the pharmacy section, which is where she was supposed to be. No mama. I walked back to the check-out lines and no mama. It crossed my mind to have her paged. I was going to have the clerk say, "Ms. Pat, paging Ms. Pat. Your daughter has wet noodles waiting for you in the check-out line." OMG, she would have died. HaHa! So, instead I decided to head to the grocery section and check up and down every aisle. Still, no mama. How could one woman with bummed-up feet be so elusive? I called my sister, Carla, and said, "You think mama can't walk around that good? Well let me tell you....just take her to Wal-Mart. I can't find her and I have been all over this store. I HAVE lost mama in Wal-Mart."  HaHa!!! Carla said, "Check up front. When she gets tired she will sit on one of the benches and wait." I told her that I had already done that...twice. We started laughing and all of sudden I run right into her. Mama was in the Movie Section.

I said, "Mama, I have been looking all over this store for you. Are you ready? We need to hurry, if you still want to go to Subway." She just ignored me and kept right on walking. She was on a mission to find a certain movie and nothing was slowing her down until she found it. And that wasn't even on her list. I said, "Wet noodles, Mama!" She just laughed. Obviously, she didn't take me seriously. HaHa!!

Well, we had just enough time to go through the Subway drive-through and make it to her doctor's appointment on time. All was well! But listen, getting blown off by your 70-something-year old mother twice in one day?  I just plain don't know what to think about that. And don't be thinking you could have done anything differently. Mama may not drive and she may hobble a little when she walks, but do not underestimate this woman on her Wal-Mart missions.

Loving My Mama,

Laurie



My Mama

Mama in 1958



I know, you probably are wondering what sort of funny post am I going to write about my mama. Well, believe it or not, there are plenty. But, I will save those for another day.....because today, February 28th,  is her birthday.

Mama was born February 28, 1941. I can always remember that because that was the year Pearl Harbor was bombed. To think....that was a whole life-time ago. So much has happened in her past 72 years.

Mama was raised by parents who worked in the Cotton Mills of SC. How's that for a look into the past? She was one of two girls and spent a lot of time with her grandparents because of her parents working. She learned a lot from her grandmother and she shares tidbits and quotes with us all the time that she gleamed from her grandmother. The one she quotes the most is, "Where there's a will, there's a way". I love hearing about things of her past. Maybe that's why nostalgia and I get along so well.

My mama is one of the sweetest, funniest, most patient, most organized and most beautiful persons I know. She is a God-fearing prayer warrior who when approached with a concern or problem guides you straight to the Father for help and guidance. She never forgets a birthday. She sends birthday cards and Christmas cards to multitudes of people. I've said it before, the greeting card companies love my mama. We really should by stock.

Mama always finds the good in people and believes in helping anyone in need, in anyway possible even if it means that she goes without. She loves movies, loves to read and loves to go out to eat. Among her favorite restaurants are Taco Bell and Myabi's. LOL! But tonight, it's going to be The River Room.

Mama and daddy were married in 1958 and daddy, shortly after, entered the Army. It was the Army that took her away from her hometown of Spartanburg. And it must have given her a sense of freedom and independence because she has yet to want to go back and make Spartanburg her home. We settled in this beautiful low country of ours. She would go back to her childhood home for a visit, but was always so happy to get back to our home in the low country.

Mama was blessed with six children, 8 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren. I am her oldest and have seen it all. The ups and downs of her life. And I am constantly amazed at her outlook on life. The tenacity of her Independence is mesmerizing.

Like her mother, she is no stranger to cotton either. Most of my teenage years, she spent working in a sewing plant helping to construct t-shirts. In time, those jobs that she was so accustomed to was shipped over seas to China. She eventually, left the sewing plants for home. She is one that can not sit still. She needs to be doing something all the time. And sitting at home got old really fast. Needing to have extra income and something to fill her days, she began babysitting in her home. Now, some 20 years later and she has racked up quite a portfolio of children that she has helped raise. Her little children love her!! Some call her what our kids call her....Granny Pat. Some can't say that and call her P-Pat or Pat-Pat. But whatever they call her, it doesn't matter. She is filled to the rim with love.

Mama spoiled my little brother. That's what true southern women do. But she taught us girls many things....sewing, cooking, organizing and how to treat and take care of others are just a few. Most of these things have made me the person I am today. I only hope that I can shape my girl's lives the way she has shaped mine. She has been an encourager and motivator. I went back to college late in life. And one of my proudest moments ever was the day she sat in the audience of my college graduation. She was my biggest fan!

Daddy went home to be with the Lord in 2008 and as mama is older now, but still in very good health, I can't help but think about the future at times. And I quickly, very quickly remove the thoughts from my mind because I.Can.Not.Ever. fathom a future without my mama in it.

Thank you, Mama, for everything you have ever done for me and my family. You have been a huge building block and corner stone in my life. I thank the good Lord for choosing you to be my mama!

Mama at her 70th birthday party.

Happy Birthday, Mama! I love you!

Laurie