by Sharon Jenson

Created on: January 13, 2009

My mother was adored. Everyone who met her instantly felt close to her. She was a gentle, inviting, and loving young woman with red hair and a flair for fashion. She enjoyed looking elegant and she loved to entertain. Formal dinners were set with the proper silver, china, and crystal. All items were properly placed and linen napkins were folded like they would be in a restaurant.

She was especially kind and generous. Whenever she found that someone was in need, she would come to help. There was a student at my high school who had a terrible injury while playing football that left him paralyzed. She helped the family to raise funds for a computer he could use to communicate with his loved ones. My father employed many Hispanic men at some of his dry cleaning businesses. Rather tight with his wallet, he did not pay much. My mother found out that one of the employees had a wife who was expecting and no local family to throw her a baby shower. My mother was happy to plan the event.

My friends found her Australian accent amusing and pleasant while my sister and I were often annoyed with it. She always reminded me to sit up straight, wear less make-up, be polite and offer to wash dishes when we were dinner guests, and she was forever correcting my English.

Not only did all who knew her love her, but my father absolutely worshiped her and would do anything for her. Mother's Day just gave him another opportunity to spoil her. Most of the Mother's Days that I can remember would begin at a more expensive restaurant of my mother's choosing and we always went for brunch. She liked Eggs Benedict and mimosas. She also enjoyed oysters so if there was fresh seafood, she would order them as well. My sister and I were reminded to keep our napkins in our laps, elbows off the table, and which fork was used for what. We were also taught how to properly order meat so that we didn't order everything medium rare. My father always presented my mother with a dozen red roses, her favorite, on Mother's Day. After brunch, we would go to the horse races, my mom loved going. If she won, there was such an obvious reaction of excitement. She was also treated to some beautiful gifts that would vary from trips to jewelry to her favorite sports car.

She was truly spoiled, and she deserved every moment of those times. At 36, she was diagnosed with breast cancer and at 44, she died. To this day I cannot pass a card aisle around Mother's Day. My sister and I think of her on her birthday, the day she died, every time we hear an Elvis song, and every time we wish we had a mom to reach out and call, hug, cry to, ask for advice, or a home cooked meal. The pain was overwhelming for over a year, then it got a little easier.

She came to me in a dream when my father found a new wife. I was upset about it and she told me in the dream that I should take a look at my father. To her, it made no difference as long as he was happy. Just last Christmas I could not stop thinking about her. She sent me the most beautiful Carpenters song. I know it was her. The first song I ever sang for my mother was a Carpenters song. Once I dried the tears after hearing it on Christmas Eve, I thanked her. I know she is with me, I know she is guiding me, and I know she's giving me a kick in the behind sometimes. Thank you mom. Every day is Mother's Day in my heart.

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