Mama, always singin’. She hugged our hurts away and made us think
chocolate gravy and biscuits for supper was a special treat just for us kids.
Mama, always barefoot. Even in the coldest of winters, when she
would hang the clothes on the line to “freeze” dry. This is the same lady who would never let us
kids go barefoot until the first day of May because the ground didn’t get warm
enough till then.
Mama, always mama. Even to a newborn animal whose real mama
refused to accept it. She said she
didn’t like animals so I guess those were tears of joy when they were ready to
be returned to the pasture or the wild.
Let’s see, besides us kids, she raised numerous pigs, wild bunny rabbits
and calves. She didn’t name them all but I remember a little chick named Susie
Q that grew to be big enough to fly up to her shoulder and perch there while
she did the dishes. There was Trixie,
the squirrel…but, that’s another story.
Then, there were our pets that she made sure were fed and watered. Naw, she didn’t like animals!!!
Mama, who thought all babies were
beautiful but not as beautiful and her grand and great-grandbabies.
Mama, who hated a confrontation but would
fight a pack of wolves to protect her family.
Mama…soft voice, tender heart, a truly
gentle spirit. Always seeing the best in
everything. Always there when she was
needed. The definition of true beauty.
Mama, our Mama…proof that love lives forever.
