One of the things I have taken up since I have been in
clinical complete remission is stand-up comedy. What a peculiar thing for a
computer graphics technology professor to do! It was on my bucket list and now
I am hooked. So far I have done two performances and have enjoyed making people
laugh as MaMa La Verne.
My very own mother made me laugh a lot. Her sense of humor
was contagious and I remember how it made me feel. My mind has been wandering
lately (not unusual for me) and I thought back to the time when I was only 37
years old. I lost my beautiful mother then because of cancer. This got me
thinking about the mother figures in my life. I can think of four lovely women
– Fernel, Bernice, Erika, and NaNa Anna – who have made an impact on my life. Oddly enough, they are all widows and have
lost the loves of their lives, yet they make me smile and make me happy to be a
woman.
Fernel is one of
the most grateful human beings I know. I painted her wooden cane with colorful
graphic patterns after she told me it was such a boring thing to look at. You
would have thought I gave her a million dollars. Fernel is so full of sweetness,
love, and gratitude. When you meet her, you just want to take her home with
you.
Bernice is the
rock. She is the voice of reason. She is the sensible foundation. I feel very
grounded when I am with her. She makes order out of chaos. She makes you feel
safe. Her faith surrounds you.
Erika balances
the worlds of the dreamer and the realist. Her favorite word is “imagine.” I
hum a little John Lennon when she is around. LOL. Erika dreams, yet also sees
reality for what it is. She has persistence and keeps on keeping on. She helps
me see balance.
NaNa Anna is
brilliant and warm. She makes my heart feel loved with the twinkle of her eyes.
With a smile on her face she can debate about any contemporary issue at the age
of 90-plus. She makes life fun and engaging.
I miss my mother every day. I realize that these four
incredible mother figures have touched my life for a reason. They have given me
what I miss from my mom.
Laughter is such a beautiful thing. Taking life too
seriously is not good for the body or the soul. Life is too short. Enjoy every minute
you have on this earth, because life is good.
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