by Trenna Sue Hiler

Created on: July 24, 2007

Sometimes great opportunities come from very simple things. I saw the title about crocheted items as Mother's Day presents and immediately wanted to visit my Mom.

Mom lives about three hours away from me and has been ill for many years. She's 77 and although she still recognizes me, the other details in her life are very foggy. We just hold on to each moment we can share.

So I took the drive and told Mom I was there to talk about presents. Her eyes lit up. She loves presents. She would wrap all the Christmas presents and peak at them several times before Christmas. She took me by the hand and to her bedroom where her cedar chest is by the bottom of the bed. I don't ever remember the chest being open and I always thought it was empty.

She began to dig out treasures. There was an old crocheted potholder with a corner burned off. It had a small piece of masking tape with my name, mother's day, and year printed on it.

A crocheted pillow made of the most horrid combination of colors came out. Again, was the tape with mother's day, my name and the year.

A bookmark crocheted of very thin thread she laid on the bed. A very crooked crocheted vest was pulled out. A handkerchief with edging appeared. She took out a crocheted coin purse. An afghan that has spent many years on the back of her couch she carefully unfolded. All of the items were well worn and had the masking tape label.

"See" my Mom, said. "Look at all the presents you made for me."

I have to admit my eyes started to mist. "Well, Mom, which is your favorite?"

"I don't know how to use the words anymore, but they are all my favorite. We spent a lot of time learning how to make these. They are all part of the same thing. You spent hours making things and they all just say, "I love you".

So the best Mother's day present is one you make this year and the one you made last year. It's the one that says "Mom, I love you."

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