Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Book Ends

Today I am celebrating the completion of my forty-fifth trip around the sun. And I'd have to say that I am exhausted.

Yesterday morning, my mother gave me a present I'll never forget. At 10:04am on May 17th, 2011, her life here on earth came to an end. My friend Jack tells me that as you grow older, holidays become morbid. I just wish that people would choose a different one to pick on. You see, on May 19th, 2002, my husbands mother passed away. Yes, today, May 18th is my birthday. I have his mothers death the day after and my mothers death the day before. Bookends to hold my birthday up.

Maxine Ellen Shattuck Adams was born November 9th, 1933 in a small country town in Michigan. She lost her father at just 12 years of age to a factory explosion and her mother to cancer when she was 20. When she was 19 years old, she married the man that would become my father, Ralph "K" Adams Jr. In one month they would have been married for 58 years. She enjoyed raising her seven children and spoiling her six grandchildren and four great grandchildren. She was the matriarch of many families so that everyone that knew her called her Mom and brought their taxes to her each year as she was the owner, operator and chief cook and bottle washer of Max's Taxes.

Maxine is preceded in death by her parents, two infant sisters and her two long loved brothers. Also preceded by her step-son.


A gathering and viewing will be held on Sunday, May 22 at Smith Family Funeral Home in Port Huron, MI from 1pm to 8pm with a luncheon from 3 to 6pm at the Thomas Edison Inn. And a service in her honor will be held on Monday, May 23 at 10am. A private family burial will follow in the Shattuck plot, back home in Selkirk, MI where she will rest beside her parents, a brother and sisters.

Good bye Mom! You did good and deserve a rest. You will always live in our hearts.


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7 comments:

MorningAJ said...

There is nothing that can be said to ease the pain of losing a loved parent. You, of all people, with the job you do, know that it happens, this is how it is, but it can never change how you feel about your own loss. Take care. And know that there are people in the world you've never even met who are thinking about you today.

Happy(?) birthday. Remember the good times.

936000 said...

Well, AJ said it so beautifully, that I can add nothing to that. You are still in my thoughts and do celebrate your birthday..your Mom certainly is!
Love and Blessings to you.

betty said...

Happy birthday to you.

I am so sorry about your mom. I said it before but I'll say it okay, she looked like a beautiful woman inside and out; I love that smile on her face.

Life will never be the same again losing her, but it does go on and it does get better, but her loss will always be with you. My best advice I tell everyone is to allow yourself to grieve and to take all the time you need to grieve. People tend to want to think you should be done with it sooner than later.

your family will be in my prayers as you begin this season of grief and loss

betty

Jim said...

Stew we wish you all the best on your birthday today!You are very wise for a man your age! Young!

Your Mom is at peace now and you and your family can rest now in the thought that you provided her with a peaceful death. May you all have peace.

Jim and Ron

AJ-OAKS said...

Oh Stew I am sorry to hear of your Mother's passing on. She will be waiting for you when it is time.
In the meantime, please do not look upon your birthday as a sad day. Look upon as a glorious day that your mother gave birth to YOU! You have all the memories that will forever be in your heart.
Big hug.
And a Happy Birthday.

Unknown said...

Thank you all for your kind words. I will pass them on to my family as well.

JustinO'Shea said...

Dear Stew:
Some days tears are very close to the surface. . like today. I read your beautiful tribute to your Mom. . . and, as I read, I couldn't help but wonder "what it's really like. . " and tried to stand in your shoes and feel what it might be like to lose my own Mom or Dad. Then the tears came. . . and I just sat here and felt them on my eyelids and cheeks . . .and I prayed for you and your family. . I surrounded you with love. . .that energy force which ties us all together. .

You've heard these words many times at Catholic funerals: "Life is not ended. . it is really changed. . "

Happy Birthday, Stew. What a great tie-together!
I wish you much peace, comfort, every good things!

Surrounding you with love. . .
justin