About Mom...

After Mom passed away in 2004 I wrote an obituary followed by a note to inquiring friends about my last moments with her. This is how the note went...

"Thank you Tim and Linda.  That is an interesting thought you brought up.  Mom's is certainly an extraordinary generation, the one Tom Brokaw calls "The Greatest."  I mean, they fought and won the biggest war the world has ever seen and they had a hell of a lot of babies.  They were truly lovers and fighters. You have to figure they took in life in huge portions.

Circa 1949
Martha Alice Gladue - Campbell

I hope when all is said and done, the historians will figure we did the same, or at least we were ready, willing and able to do the same. They set a remarkable example for us and generations to follow.

For now, I just think of running a brush through Mom's beautiful platinum hair as she laid in the hospital last weekend.

Of carefully applying a cool cloth to her forehead and cheeks, of slowly giving her water with a small sponge on a popsicle stick when we had to be extremely careful to be sure she didn't aspirate.

Of hearing her struggle to regain some speech and hearing her first words include, "I Love You."

1980's

Of seeing the joy in her face when she was able to kiss her 11 month old grandson Dakota.

Of witnessing her sense of fulfillment when she used her only good hand to point to my brother and I and say, "My boys."

Of seeing her stick her tongue out at no one in particular (the situation?) and beam when my brother joked with her, and seeing her beam when I joked with her.

Of Julieann holding back, across the room, knowing it was our time to say goodbye.

And finally, of kissing her cheek and lips last Sunday morning, and holding her hand to say "goodbye" without actually saying the word, both of us crying at once, each of believing it was time.

It was the most tender moment of my life and I will be eternally grateful for it. Grateful to my Mother for being who she was and to my wife, Julieann for being who she is.  My life is filled with extraordinary women; my Mother, my wife and my daughter.  My son Tyler is an amazing person too; generous, loyal, smart, talented and more.  I am a huge lottery winner Tim and I didn't even have to buy a ticket.

I wish I would have spent more time with her, and would have thought to ask more about her childhood, about her being raised on a Montana homestead in a family of 13.

You got me going on this one Tim.  Thanks.  I appreciated sitting here reflecting on these events and sharing them with you."

I am thinking of you today my Chippewa Princess. You are in Heaven and it was made for you...