Thursday, April 2, 2009

Happy Birthday to my Mom, Arlene Wozniak Turnbull!

Arlene Marie Guinee Wozniak Turnbull
1931-1998
My beloved Mother



Little did I know
when I was a youngster
how much joy
a smile could bring to a parent.


Little did I know
when I was a youngster
that playing a game with your Mom
was a life lesson.


Little did I know
when I was a youngster
that laughter
really was the best medicine.


Little did I know
when I was a teenager
that I would one day be
a teacher of life's lessons.



Little did I know
when I was a teenager
how much
my relatives would
mean to me.


Little did I know
when I was a teenager
how important
rules are in life.


Little did I know
when I was a teenager
how warm
a hug could feel.


Little did I know
when I was a young adult
that I would one day
grow up to be a strong woman
because I wanted to be
just like YOU.


Little did I know
when I was a young adult
that one day I would use
the independence you allowed me,
to stand on my own two feet

and make responsible decisions.


Little did I know
when I was a young mother
that I could be a good, single parent
because I saw you
as a great single parent.



I know now
as a daughter
and as a mother
that I will forever cherish
the love, generosity, and kindness
you unconditionally gave me.
Until we see each other again
I will forever keep you in my heart.
I love you and miss you bunches.

Happy Birthday Mom!

5 comments:

Greta Koehl said...

What a lovely tribute to your mother!

Evelyn Yvonne Theriault said...

Her spirit shines through in this image. You are lucky to have had her as your mother.
Evelyn in Montreal

Becky Thompson said...

My goodness, you're a good writer! I loved the little verses you put together. It was a pleasure to read this tribute to your mom!

SpeakUp Librarian said...

Beautiful!

Taylorstales-Genealogy said...

Thank you all for your kind comments!

The Family

The family. We were a strange little band of characters trudging through life sharing diseases and toothpaste, coveting one another's desserts, hiding shampoo, borrowing money, locking each other out of our rooms, inflicting pain and kissing to heal it in the same instant, loving, laughing, defending, and trying to figure out the common thread that bound us all together. ~Erma Bombeck

Genealogy Pox, author unknown

WARNING: GENEALOGY POX IS VERY CONTAGIOUS!

SYMPTOMS: Continual complaint as to need for names, dates and places. Patient has a blank expressions, sometimes deaf to spouse and children. Has no taste for work of any kind, except feverishly looking through records at libraries and courthouses.
Has a compulsion to write letters. Swears at mailman when he doesn't leave mail. Frequents strange places such as cemeteries, ruins, and remote desolate country areas. Makes secret night calls and hides phone bills from spouse. Mumbles to self. Has strange, faraway look in eyes.

NO KNOWN CURE!

TREATMENT: Medication is useless. This disease is not fatal, but gets progressively worse. Patient should attend genealogy workshops, subscribe to genealogical magazines and be given a quiet corner in the house where he/she can be alone.

REMARKS: The unusual nature of this disease is that the sicker the patient gets, the more he or she enjoys it!