My mom's gift?

In July 2012, I lost my mom.  Oh how I miss her!  I would love so much to just have a few more minutes with her to chat about this and that.  To hug her and kiss her and to be with her.  The memories I have of my mom are so precious to me.  Thankfully I was able to have her in my life up until my mid 40s......

I would love for my mom to still be with us.  For her to see my son grow up, for my said son to continue to spend time with his beloved mémère and learn and love and grow with her around.  I would have loved to continue to benefit from her experience and from her wisdom.  I especially would have loved for her to meet my new man.....and for him to meet her.

I like to think that perhaps she's the one that sent him to me?  Perhaps in someway she knew that I was going to quit this dating thing and therefore possibly be alone for the rest of my life.  Who knows?

The one good and beautiful thing (apart from the obvious) that has resulted from meeting my 'new' man is that I am also getting to develop a relationship with his elderly mother....his 'ma'

I can't tell you how good it feels to sit down with a cup of tea and to chat with this wise woman.

She is in no way like my mother, she doesn't look like her or sound like her yet...... sometimes I feel like I'm sitting with my mom.

I think it is her wisdom and her attitude that is spilling over.   The same wisdom and the same attitude as my mom.  One of independence, of strength and especially of love without bondaries.

Some of the conversations I have with 'ma' are very similar and almost word per word as to the talks I had with my own mother.  The independent living that she is hanging on to, the challenges of getting older, the worries that she has for her children, her grandchildren and even her great grand children.  The love, oh the love that shines through for all of her family, including me, her new found 'daughter in law'.  This fantastic lady loves!  She loves life, she loves her family and she loves herself.

It's fascinating to see this love and respect that she has for herself.  Here I am learning and writing about how we should be the most important people in our lives and here she is living it.  She doesn't even think about it.  My mother was the same way and I suspect many elderly 'get' it.  That self-love is the most important love.....

'Ma' loves me and tells me everytime I see her.  She tells anyone that will listen to her how much she loves me (lol).  I honestly love her too and I openly tell her also!  Major love fest going on here!  What a great lady! 

I've always noticed the intelligence in my mom and I also see it in my new 'ma'.   These ladies of a certain age have never had the chance for formal education.  It is really too bad.  In fact, I suspect that we as a society are losing out by not taking the time to sit down and to talk with the elderly.  I am of the opinion that the elderly may hold the key to many of our worldly problems.  The life expericnce that they hold is priceless and endless....yet we don't tap into it.....

My mom had a hunger to learn.  My 'ma' does also but she doesn't even realize it.  That is how intelligent she is.  She tells me that she loves talking with me because she likes talking with an educated woman.  'Ma' has two sons and no daughters and she manages to make me feel pretty special.....just like my mom always did.

Yes, the more I think about it, the more I think that my own precious mother has gifted me.  Not only with a fantastic man, but also with a wonderful elderly lady.....

Thanks mom!  Merci maman!

Signed gratefully yours,

SSW :)