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Remembering the Melodies
Another year has rolled around, and it’s that time of year… I remember the Sundays we all gathered at home. She always said, “Give me my flowers while I’m living.” We understood, and we did not wait until she was gone to celebrate her life. She was so right.
The pineapple chiffon cake she loved. The cards. The flowers, they always seemed to surprise her. She always said, “You didn’t need to do that.” Most of all, I remember all of us gathered around the table with our little ones, laughing and enjoying the time we had. That’s what she loved. Good memories. Those were special family times.
Momma was her own person, to be sure. She was born in the Western North Carolina mountains, one of twelve children. To say they were poor would be an understatement. The large family picked up and, for reasons unknown, moved to the foothills. I imagine in the pre-WWII days, it was for economic reasons.
The mountain spirit lived in my mother’s bones. She was proud and determined to rise above any disadvantage that was in her path. And that she did. The quote by Henry David Thoreau summed her up best: “Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you’ve imagined.” And oh, did she!!!
