Mom

My mother died last night. She was 84, and suffered from dementia, diabetes and heart problems. I don't know all the details, but we were told that she passed away peacefully. My brother called with the news, but I can't hear anyone on the phone, so he relayed it through my guy.

She had a difficult life from almost the beginning, being born a few years after the Great Depression and living in poverty in the country. An only child, she often took care of her father while her mother worked. She was very close to her dad, a police constable who became an invalid during her childhood. I remember my grandfather, who was always bed-ridden, being funny and kind even when he was in pain. Mom was the same way.

Mom was devoted to her faith. She didn't just go to church; she did a lot of good work through it, including feeding the homeless, teaching Bible school, and looking in on the elderly and ill. She worked as a secretary for three ministers, too. She joined the Civil Air Patrol and rose to the rank of Major, and got me involved in it, too, which later influenced my decision to join the Air Force. She loved cameos, dogs and my dad.

My mother liked to read historical romance, and Jude Deveraux was her favorite author. Instead she told everyone she was my #1 fan. She actually did read every single book I published under my own byline, and I'm pretty sure she's the only person in my family who did that.

Mom believed in heaven, and I think she earned a place there. My one hope is that wherever she is, she's with my dad. Be at peace, Mom.

I'll be taking another break from blogging so I can deal with this. Take care, everyone.