Memories...
Michael's Mom Passed Away Yesterday Afternoon...
...But instead of reflecting on these past week, I'm taking a lead from Ian, and I'm writing some of my very special memories of mom.
It's hard to find in-laws that like you, let alone in-laws that love you. I have been blessed enough to have met two such sets of parent's in my lifetime, and I'm even happier to be a part of one of those families right now.
It's funny now, but it was stessful then... The first time Michael's parent's heard that he was dating someone about 9 years younger then he they were a bit... Let's say skeptical. (*Laughs!*) What was funny however was that right after they met me they told Michael I was probably more mature than him. From then we've grown into a family, and I wasn't even fully aware of it until 3 weeks ago.
See... I've always been afraid to call other people's parent's "Mom" or "Dad" out of respect. I was never sure when to cross the boundaries for that. However, for Mom's birthday this year, 3 weeks ago actually, I took a leap of faith and gave her a bracelet that all of the women in my family wear. It's a pandora with a small heart bead on it. You know the saying, "Home is where the heart is." well that's the symbolism for the heart. The heart is our link to each other. ~I wear mine every day along with the ring my own mother and I both wear.
~Acutally, I'd have to admit that jewelry wasn't my "thing" until I met Diamond Lil. (*Mom's Nickname!*) ...Michael may have bought and picked out my engagement ring, but it was Michael's mom who hunted through thousands of designs to narrow it down to something extraordinary, and she's the one that bargained the hell out of the jewler in St. Thomas for the stone!
~All of the jewelry I have recieved from both her and Michael is extraordinary. Pieces I have never seen before! And my Engagement ring, well, let's just say that I was ahead of the curve with fashion because of mom. Suddenly all of the bridal magazine's are filled with something similar to the ring I wear now, but since mom&Michael basically designed it, stone and setting separately, I have something entirely unique.
***
My memories are often random... So forgive me if these are out of order. But these are some of my best memories...
~The first year we were dating Mom&Dad took me to get crabs. I say "Me" becuase Michael has no affinity for the picking of crabs! (*Laughs!*) I remember very clearly Mom, wearing her beautiful rings, gouging away at Old-Bay-Coated Maryland Crabs! She even ate the mustard! It was the first time I saw the Mom that loved "FooFoo Food" ALSO loved to get down and dirty with crabs! I believe that there is something to be said about the character of a person that likes Crabs. ...But maybe that's just me being weird.
~The first Jewish Holiday I spent with Michael's WHOLE Family at Leslie's house Mom made asparagus. I hate asparagus. But because she made it, I ate like 3 stalks because I didn't want to be disrespectful... (*Laughs!*) I also ate Ruggila, which I also apparently dislike AND This cookie thing that was so covered in powder that I could hardly swallow it! (*Laughs*) Whenever she gave me something I always ate it regardless of whether I liked it or not! (*Smiles!*)
~The first time I cooked for Michael's parent's I made a Corned Beef with my special Brown-Sugar Glaze. I was just pleased at the time because I got to cook my first meal for his mom. It was important to me in some strange way that I demonstrate that I loved Michael and cooking/baking has always been one of those things that demonstrates love to me. I guess because cooking is one of my passions its one of the strongest displays of love I can give. I wanted to show my love for Michael, but also my love&respect for them. I remember that I even made this terrible asparagus because Mom loved it. As I already mentioned, I hate asparagus... (*Laughs!*)
...I always brought something down, even if I didn't have the time to bake something myself, I'd stop at a bakery and get something! I'd almost always err on the side of something reasonably chocoltely because Mom loved Chocolate!*)
~I remember that as soon as I found out Michael's mom loved chocolate AND chocolate-covered raisins I made my famous Choco-Chip Raison Cookies and gave her a "quick mix" of it for Hanukkah!
~For reasons unknown Mom was always trying to give me Diet Coke. She just got it in her head that I really liked it and would buy extra for me whenever we came to visit. (*Laughs!*)
~After every meal mom would never let me do the dishes. Whenever I could manage it I would squeeze in and do them! If she cooked I felt lke I should do the dishes... It was like a silent game we played! It made me happy especially to wiggle in and take over washing because I wanted her to relax after cooking a big meal!
~I didn't know pillows weren't for using until I met Mom. If you've never met Michael's mother, than I don't think you would understand. There are soo many pillows you can't even begin to imagine! And even more importantly, she sewed them all. Everything in this house is a memorial to her and her life.
~Every year Michael would give his mother a joke gift. The first year he did it, he got this Roaster Vase from my family's Naughty&Nice. This sucker was pretty damn near hideous! When she saw it it was like "Ohh... Thank You!" ~Michael&I started laughing and then gave her her real birthday present! Last year, however, we had this other hideous thing we were calling "Cheese and Quackers!" ...It was like this duck serving platter! ...AND she actually liked it! She even used it when her friends came buy to play cards! (*Laughs!*) ...We were both surprised! but if she wanted it, that was okay!
~One of my ALL TIME FAVORITE Memories was when Michael was making fun of Gabriel's clothing store... Mom said Gabriel's was actually very nice but that you had to go in the morning because the "Mexicans came out at night." Michael&I burst into hysterical laughter!
And My Favortie Memory, my most treasured memory, happened 3 weeks ago. ... Mom put asked if she could put her wig on my head to trim it. ...It seems silly to maybe you... But It was important to me.
...
Those are some of my favorite memories... I'm sure I'll think of more later and add them when I think about them. She was a very talented and artistic woman and this house if filled with her every step that I take. Even now I can't imagine it without her. I feel like any moment she's going to walk into the kitchen and ask me if I want some Diet Coke! (*Laughs*)
I Thought Memories Were One Of The Best Tributes I Could Give... I Hope They Paint A Picture Of The Beautiful Woman That She Was.
...But instead of reflecting on these past week, I'm taking a lead from Ian, and I'm writing some of my very special memories of mom.
It's hard to find in-laws that like you, let alone in-laws that love you. I have been blessed enough to have met two such sets of parent's in my lifetime, and I'm even happier to be a part of one of those families right now.
It's funny now, but it was stessful then... The first time Michael's parent's heard that he was dating someone about 9 years younger then he they were a bit... Let's say skeptical. (*Laughs!*) What was funny however was that right after they met me they told Michael I was probably more mature than him. From then we've grown into a family, and I wasn't even fully aware of it until 3 weeks ago.
See... I've always been afraid to call other people's parent's "Mom" or "Dad" out of respect. I was never sure when to cross the boundaries for that. However, for Mom's birthday this year, 3 weeks ago actually, I took a leap of faith and gave her a bracelet that all of the women in my family wear. It's a pandora with a small heart bead on it. You know the saying, "Home is where the heart is." well that's the symbolism for the heart. The heart is our link to each other. ~I wear mine every day along with the ring my own mother and I both wear.
~Acutally, I'd have to admit that jewelry wasn't my "thing" until I met Diamond Lil. (*Mom's Nickname!*) ...Michael may have bought and picked out my engagement ring, but it was Michael's mom who hunted through thousands of designs to narrow it down to something extraordinary, and she's the one that bargained the hell out of the jewler in St. Thomas for the stone!
~All of the jewelry I have recieved from both her and Michael is extraordinary. Pieces I have never seen before! And my Engagement ring, well, let's just say that I was ahead of the curve with fashion because of mom. Suddenly all of the bridal magazine's are filled with something similar to the ring I wear now, but since mom&Michael basically designed it, stone and setting separately, I have something entirely unique.
***
My memories are often random... So forgive me if these are out of order. But these are some of my best memories...
~The first year we were dating Mom&Dad took me to get crabs. I say "Me" becuase Michael has no affinity for the picking of crabs! (*Laughs!*) I remember very clearly Mom, wearing her beautiful rings, gouging away at Old-Bay-Coated Maryland Crabs! She even ate the mustard! It was the first time I saw the Mom that loved "FooFoo Food" ALSO loved to get down and dirty with crabs! I believe that there is something to be said about the character of a person that likes Crabs. ...But maybe that's just me being weird.
~The first Jewish Holiday I spent with Michael's WHOLE Family at Leslie's house Mom made asparagus. I hate asparagus. But because she made it, I ate like 3 stalks because I didn't want to be disrespectful... (*Laughs!*) I also ate Ruggila, which I also apparently dislike AND This cookie thing that was so covered in powder that I could hardly swallow it! (*Laughs*) Whenever she gave me something I always ate it regardless of whether I liked it or not! (*Smiles!*)
~The first time I cooked for Michael's parent's I made a Corned Beef with my special Brown-Sugar Glaze. I was just pleased at the time because I got to cook my first meal for his mom. It was important to me in some strange way that I demonstrate that I loved Michael and cooking/baking has always been one of those things that demonstrates love to me. I guess because cooking is one of my passions its one of the strongest displays of love I can give. I wanted to show my love for Michael, but also my love&respect for them. I remember that I even made this terrible asparagus because Mom loved it. As I already mentioned, I hate asparagus... (*Laughs!*)
...I always brought something down, even if I didn't have the time to bake something myself, I'd stop at a bakery and get something! I'd almost always err on the side of something reasonably chocoltely because Mom loved Chocolate!*)
~I remember that as soon as I found out Michael's mom loved chocolate AND chocolate-covered raisins I made my famous Choco-Chip Raison Cookies and gave her a "quick mix" of it for Hanukkah!
~For reasons unknown Mom was always trying to give me Diet Coke. She just got it in her head that I really liked it and would buy extra for me whenever we came to visit. (*Laughs!*)
~After every meal mom would never let me do the dishes. Whenever I could manage it I would squeeze in and do them! If she cooked I felt lke I should do the dishes... It was like a silent game we played! It made me happy especially to wiggle in and take over washing because I wanted her to relax after cooking a big meal!
~I didn't know pillows weren't for using until I met Mom. If you've never met Michael's mother, than I don't think you would understand. There are soo many pillows you can't even begin to imagine! And even more importantly, she sewed them all. Everything in this house is a memorial to her and her life.
~Every year Michael would give his mother a joke gift. The first year he did it, he got this Roaster Vase from my family's Naughty&Nice. This sucker was pretty damn near hideous! When she saw it it was like "Ohh... Thank You!" ~Michael&I started laughing and then gave her her real birthday present! Last year, however, we had this other hideous thing we were calling "Cheese and Quackers!" ...It was like this duck serving platter! ...AND she actually liked it! She even used it when her friends came buy to play cards! (*Laughs!*) ...We were both surprised! but if she wanted it, that was okay!
~One of my ALL TIME FAVORITE Memories was when Michael was making fun of Gabriel's clothing store... Mom said Gabriel's was actually very nice but that you had to go in the morning because the "Mexicans came out at night." Michael&I burst into hysterical laughter!
And My Favortie Memory, my most treasured memory, happened 3 weeks ago. ... Mom put asked if she could put her wig on my head to trim it. ...It seems silly to maybe you... But It was important to me.
...
Those are some of my favorite memories... I'm sure I'll think of more later and add them when I think about them. She was a very talented and artistic woman and this house if filled with her every step that I take. Even now I can't imagine it without her. I feel like any moment she's going to walk into the kitchen and ask me if I want some Diet Coke! (*Laughs*)
I Thought Memories Were One Of The Best Tributes I Could Give... I Hope They Paint A Picture Of The Beautiful Woman That She Was.