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Ann Coulter and I turn out to have several things in common. We both graduated from University of Michigan professional schools (law and medicine, respectively). Our mothers both lived in Kentucky. Our mothers were both staunch Republicans. Our mothers both had cancer (ovarian and lung). And our mothers both died recently of their cancers (mine last Monday).
My mom specified that she wanted neither a funeral nor a memorial service. She didn’t proscribe a few words of remembrance on a conservative blog.
My mother was a small town girl with small town values. She never saw a person of color in person until she moved to Chicago, right after her high school graduation in 1945. Only later in life did she work with such people, in the job she held with the Visiting Nurses Association of America, until her retirement at age 73. It is to her enormous credit that, through this experience, she was finally able to overcome her small town prejudices. She worked hard, was neat as a pin, thoughtful and generous in her gifts, despite personal frugality. She was strong, courageous, and uncomplaining, despite a number of setbacks in her life, including two forms of cancer. She looked death in the face and didn’t blink.
She became a tobacco addict as a teenager, which is when most tobacco addicts develop their addiction. She tried to stop — many times, including after her first child became a board certified medical oncologist and tried mightily to get her to stop. It’s easier to quit heroin than it is to quit tobacco, and I was so proud of her when she was finally able to do it. Alas, too late.
With my wife, I visited her for 4 days in mid April. During those 4 days, she went from “weak, but almost normal” to bedridden and confused. My brother (whom I nominate for sainthood) traveled from California to Kentucky to stay with her for the final 3 weeks, providing around the clock private duty nursing care (his day job being biotech sales and marketing). He was with her when she died at 5:30 AM last Monday.
Tomorrow is Mother’s Day. I won’t have anyone to call.
To those who do, make the “I love you” very clear.
Couldn’t agree more, Larry. I am at the opposite end of the nation from my mom (85) and dad (94), but email daily and call several times a week just to hear “a voice” too. I treasure every moment they share this planet with me, and never miss any opportunity to make it very clear I love them dearly. And I sure don’t need a hallmark holiday to remind me.
My condolences on your family’s loss. I’m sure your mom was proud as punch of her children. And I hope her life was as rich with adventure and happiness as it was with the love of her family.
rachel
14 years ago
I miss my parents both, and I feel for Ann. But the comfort of knowing (or at least hoping) they are together again in a better place is a comfort.
Happy Mother’s Day to all the wonderful mothers whose angelic faces will one day be missed to the point of pain for those of us left behind.
DaNang67
14 years ago
I can only will you a mental hug of sympathy Larry. The future holds many regrets for conversations never held and kind words unsaid. A man can change the world in many ways, but some things are, regrettably, immutable.
Larry: My sympathies. I understand Mother’s Day will be a difficult day for you but like Ann, I hope you may look back on many fond memories in spite of the loss of her passing.
Also, I hope you will forgive me for saying I wish you shared a further thing in common with Ann Coulter. Maybe in time.
As for the general point others have expressed about missing their parents I am fortunate to have both of mine. They spent 2 months with me during this winter when Ohio was locked in ice and snow. At present, I am not missing them as much as I might otherwise. But absence does make the heart grow fonder.
Mother’s Day is a day to celebrate all that is good about motherhood. And I do hope everyone enjoys the day. Looks like it will be a nice beach day here.
Ann Coulter and I turn out to have several things in common. We both graduated from University of Michigan professional schools (law and medicine, respectively). Our mothers both lived in Kentucky. Our mothers were both staunch Republicans. Our mothers both had cancer (ovarian and lung). And our mothers both died recently of their cancers (mine last Monday).
My mom specified that she wanted neither a funeral nor a memorial service. She didn’t proscribe a few words of remembrance on a conservative blog.
My mother was a small town girl with small town values. She never saw a person of color in person until she moved to Chicago, right after her high school graduation in 1945. Only later in life did she work with such people, in the job she held with the Visiting Nurses Association of America, until her retirement at age 73. It is to her enormous credit that, through this experience, she was finally able to overcome her small town prejudices. She worked hard, was neat as a pin, thoughtful and generous in her gifts, despite personal frugality. She was strong, courageous, and uncomplaining, despite a number of setbacks in her life, including two forms of cancer. She looked death in the face and didn’t blink.
She became a tobacco addict as a teenager, which is when most tobacco addicts develop their addiction. She tried to stop — many times, including after her first child became a board certified medical oncologist and tried mightily to get her to stop. It’s easier to quit heroin than it is to quit tobacco, and I was so proud of her when she was finally able to do it. Alas, too late.
With my wife, I visited her for 4 days in mid April. During those 4 days, she went from “weak, but almost normal” to bedridden and confused. My brother (whom I nominate for sainthood) traveled from California to Kentucky to stay with her for the final 3 weeks, providing around the clock private duty nursing care (his day job being biotech sales and marketing). He was with her when she died at 5:30 AM last Monday.
Tomorrow is Mother’s Day. I won’t have anyone to call.
To those who do, make the “I love you” very clear.
– Larry Weisenthal/Huntington Beach, CA
Couldn’t agree more, Larry. I am at the opposite end of the nation from my mom (85) and dad (94), but email daily and call several times a week just to hear “a voice” too. I treasure every moment they share this planet with me, and never miss any opportunity to make it very clear I love them dearly. And I sure don’t need a hallmark holiday to remind me.
My condolences on your family’s loss. I’m sure your mom was proud as punch of her children. And I hope her life was as rich with adventure and happiness as it was with the love of her family.
I miss my parents both, and I feel for Ann. But the comfort of knowing (or at least hoping) they are together again in a better place is a comfort.
Happy Mother’s Day to all the wonderful mothers whose angelic faces will one day be missed to the point of pain for those of us left behind.
I can only will you a mental hug of sympathy Larry. The future holds many regrets for conversations never held and kind words unsaid. A man can change the world in many ways, but some things are, regrettably, immutable.
Larry: My sympathies. I understand Mother’s Day will be a difficult day for you but like Ann, I hope you may look back on many fond memories in spite of the loss of her passing.
Also, I hope you will forgive me for saying I wish you shared a further thing in common with Ann Coulter. Maybe in time.
As for the general point others have expressed about missing their parents I am fortunate to have both of mine. They spent 2 months with me during this winter when Ohio was locked in ice and snow. At present, I am not missing them as much as I might otherwise. But absence does make the heart grow fonder.
Mother’s Day is a day to celebrate all that is good about motherhood. And I do hope everyone enjoys the day. Looks like it will be a nice beach day here.
Sweet. Ann Coulter is a rock star.