I called her many things. Mom, Maw, Grammy, MH, Calpal and just for fun I would call her Mary Cleary. She hated that.
There's alot I don't know about my mother, she was at once a complicated and a simple person. What I do know is she cared about people. Her family, her friends, and people less fortunate than her. No matter her situation, she was always greatful for what she had and didn't dwell on what she didn't have.
I have many memories of my mother through the many stages of my life,but most recently she was my Jeopardy partner. That half hour had replaced the dinner hour in our house. No matter what kind of day we had, we were able to put it all aside for at least 30 minutes and share a brief moment together.
We also watched many movies together. She really liked a feel good movie and when a movie woiuld resolve to happy, one of her favorite sayings was "everyone goes to the seashore".
My mother was not perfect, but she was a good person. A caring, generous, supportive person and I loved her.
I'll see you at the seashore mom.
Mary Helen was my mother and my friend. We had great adventures together beginning when I was just nine when we sailed to the Bahamas.
When I moved from the east coast to California, it was mother who drove out with my dad in their VW bus to get me and Rachel who was only four. Over the years we took a few tours ~ the Queen Mary & Spruce Goose, Salvang, the Vincent Van Gogh Exhibit in Los Angeles, Laughlin and many fun trips to rummage sales and garage sales.
We had an ebay business that we ran together for about two years when she was in her late 70's! We had lots of fun and even made a few bucks.
She was the rock of our family and will be forever missed.
I called my sister Helen my whole life, and will always remember her by that name.
We had lots of fun adn adventures together. Lots of all night poker games when we were younger.
We even were both car hops at the same place in Florida when the drive in food places were the "In" place to be.
More recently, when she was 75, I packed my little red Geo and we drove and camped from florida to Virginia, to Wisconson, to upper Michigan and back. A fun and relaxing trip.
Just last year we both met in San Antonio and Walked the whole river walk and then to the Alamo and to a top of the world revolving restraunt.
I was luck enough to be albe to visit her one last time in October. I flew out for a week of chatting and laughing.
We talked several times a week and she was the one that kept the rest of the siblings up to date with what all were doing.
I miss her so very much, but will cherish the laughs and fun we had for almost 70 years.
I remain her baby sister Barbara
