Happy Mother's Day

Even being 61, I feel like a baby compared to my mother, who is 104.  Yep, that is no misprint.  I am the baby in the family and did not show up until she was 43.  My mom lives near Baltimore, MD at a place called Sunrise.  She has been there for 13 years.

Hopefully, many of you still have your mother.  If you do, this is a good time to get together with them and talk.  Talk about things that matter, family.  She might have really great stories to tell.  Maybe they should be recorded so your children and grandchildren can hear them.  Much of our family history is lost from generation to generation.  My mother has always been a source of stories about her parents and the many trials and successes of their lives.

The other day, I was honored to have lunch with someone else's mother, Sara.  She has a tie to me on two levels.  At 92 years old she is still actively working and is my wife's co-worker.  She also happens to be from my hometown and used to live across the street from my mother's house.  There is a 12 year age difference between her and my mom.  Sara told me of sitting on her porch and looking across the street at my mother and her friends, the older girls.

It is hard to imagine a world without my mother but I know there day will come and I will get the dreaded call.

This was recently highlighted by a fall that resulted in a fractured shoulder.  She seems to be recovering, slowly.  Mom was lucky this time and dodged a bullet.  Sara also had a fall (about 12 hours earlier than my mom) and is currently recovering in the hostital after having surgery.  I brought her lunch he other day and we chatted until her therapy time came around.  I was shooed from the room as they got her up and moving with a walker.  At first, it was one foot shuffling behind the other.  In only 20 feet she was picking up speed.  I have no doubt that Sara will be in rare form in no time.  She is a fighter.

Hopefully, your mother is still alive and healthy.  Mother's Day is a good time to reach out with cards, candy and flowers but try talking to your mom.  Talk about family and if there are bad feelings put them aside.  Too quickly, they can be gone forever and you may miss the opportunity to talk and enjoy each other.

So, for all you mothers out there, Happy Mother's Day.  You are appreciated.

Michael Kaynard is a local photographer who lives in West Ashley.  His photos can be found at http://kaynardphotography.webs.com.  He can be reached  at mkaynard@gmail.com or 843-412-2299.