Monday, October 5, 2009

Lera

That is my mother's name. Lera. To me it is a beautiful name. I wanted to name Anna that name but Win said no.

Mother, as I call her, is strong woman. She has been through a lot in her life. She married at the age of 16 and her first of 6 children were born 2 years later. The first house she lived in with running water and electricity was with her husband, my father. When she was pregnant with her third child, she was 21 years old. She had a 4 year old and 2 year old at home, both boys, my father was drinking, what he loved to do, and he was mixing chemicals together at his business. He set the building on fire and he set himself on fire. He would survive and be in the hospital for many, many months. During this time Mother's mother, Carroll, would be diagnosed with breast cancer. This would be the fall. My grandmother would die the following June, my brother Renny would be born right before that, about 2 weeks before her death and my parents would inherit her 2 little sisters. All this in the space of about 8 months.

My mother would go on in the next 2 years and have another child, my sister. I would not be born for another 7 years and my youngest brother would come 7 years after me.

My mother would raise all of us on her own. She doesn't even have a high school education but she is the smartest woman I know. She is like Win and Davis and can do math problems in her head. Her first job after my parents divorce was to deliver newspapers. She would go on to work at Morrison's Cafeteria for 26 years.

In June of 2008 she would be diagnosed with breast cancer. Her house would then flood in May of 2009 and she would have to live at one of my brother's house for 4 months. She has cried more in the last year and half than I have ever seen her cry.

She has endured many hardships her life. Many people have talked about her behind her back and judged her harshly. She has had to face life without a mate. She has gone without so her children could have what they needed. She has lost many of her teeth, but I have all of mine, thanks to her. She has been consistant in her life. She has stayed and done what needed to be done and not quit on life or her children.

She has raised 6 sucessful children. She is a wonderful woman. She would do anything for me. She tells me like it is and loves me without telling me that she loves me.

Happy 76th birthday Mother. I love you.

3 comments:

Karen said...

What a truly amazing woman. Happy birthday to your mom.
Hugs,
Karen
Ladybug Creek

Scooter said...

What a wonderful tribute! I, too, have a strong and treasured mother, and I celebrate with you.

hk_seo said...

thanks!