"A happy marriage is about three things: memories of togetherness, forgiveness of mistakes and a promise to never give up on each other." - Surabhi Surendra
Ironically enough, as I finished my last blog Maintaining Relationships in a Disposable Society, I was reminded of my mom and dads anniversary. Not just any anniversary... it's the big 40 YEAR mark!!! Can you dig it!!??
It doesn't seem society offers men and women that have the tools to make it that far anymore. It saddens me! I mean, heck, I only made it 4 years in my own marriage. I'm not sure I even have the tools, after some of the crappy relationships I've been in, I do wonder! I still have hope though.
I always wondered what it was that made them stay. Sometimes I'm sure it was us kids, but obviously there's a bond there that's unbreakable. I can remember so many times seeing them fight, hearing them scream, feeling the slamming doors; but they always came back and loved!! There was MANY times we thought it was the end of the road, but they always found a way to make it work!
My mom takes care of both of my grandmothers... one full time, that lives with them and one that lives about a mile up the street. She takes care of everybody, and in my opinion and most of the time, never takes care of herself. She has always put us first, in everything.
If there was an award for strength, I'd give it to my mom. She has battled SO MANY health issues. Hepatitis C, Cirrhosis, brain tumor, gallbladder removal, breast cancer, double mastectomy, countless reconstructive surgeries from that, and I could go on and on. She was always there for us when we got off the school bus! That's one thing I've regretted about being a single mom, not 'being there' sometimes. I always wanted to be THAT mom. But when I couldn't be there for Caylee my mom was. At some of the worst times in my life, she was there to either punch me or hug me lol!! And still to this day, when I'm sick, she's the one I want most times. I can't help it, it's just the baby in me, I guess.
And my dad... well he's just one of a kind. All his girls love him dearly and he's always been known as "the fun guy".
When you watch someone go through a plethora of health and family issues and you see a man still standing there, beside her through it all, THAT is called unconditional love. He might be a "PITA" - (pain in the A**), as my mom would sometimes say lol, but he's a good man! A great man, actually! He is funny and smart and handy and can literally do ANYTHING at all!!! If ANY of us girls need anything at all, he is first in line. He's been there providing, sheltering, and loving my mom and us and all the grand kids from day one! THAT is the definition of a real man. He can do anything from build a car from the ground up, to upholstered chairs and headboards, to french braiding hair!!
Now, we are faced with yet another grueling journey ahead, as we just found out my mom has a tumor the size of an egg in her lung. As far as we know and from what the PET Scan reported, it's not cancer... but to me, there's always that chance, especially after having breast cancer. So if you pray, please continue to keep my family in your prayers.
All I can say is, we will stick together with the same strength and sense of humor we always have... goofy and crazy and unstoppable. Come what may!
I'm not sure how I will ever be able to repay my mom and dad for everything they have done for me. I'm literally in tears as I write this because I can't even find the words to express how much I truly appreciate them for all they have sacrificed and how much hell I put them through and still to this day, they'd give any of us the shirt of their very back!!!
I can only hope, as I age and become a "young" old lady (haha lol), and as I continue to pray for the man God has in store for me, that I will hold on to all of the wonderful characteristics and values that they taught and LIVED in front of us.
Mom and dad, this ones for y'all!!!
THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart for everything y'all have done for me and my sisters!! Y'all are truly one of a kind and I can't even imagine life without y'all!!
