History of Mom

My mom is beautiful. Smart, witty and full of life. She attended college for a few years, but quit going after she met the love of her life. She married my father in 1965. They traveled around America, my mom following my father wherever his job took him. She told me many times she was excited to travel. After growing up on an Island her whole life, being able to explore the US was one of her dreams. She didn't mind moving every year, and loved that she got to redecorate a new home each time.

After many years of moving and marriage, my parents were finally ready for a child. My mom used to tell me that my dad wanted a boy, but instead he got me, and made me one tough little girl! When I look back now, I think maybe he was preparing me for life's roller coaster early.

Mom was one of those people who was outgoing and loved to get involved. When I was young, she was in a social sorority and had lots of girlfriends. They used to do all sorts of fundraisers and banquets. She also took care of our family. Every whim was attended to. My homework was always finished on time, school projects were always done. Dinner included all four food groups, and vacations were well planned out in advance. I guess you could say my Mom was the captain of our little family ship.

When not attending to our family, my mom liked doing crossword puzzles with her sister and best friends. They used to sit for hours and work those things out, or maybe play a game of scrabble. I never liked playing scrabble with her because I could never win. She also loved playing cards, especially cribbage. She got to the point where I couldn't beat her at that either. It was a pretty good life. I have to say I was very blessed in my childhood. We had everything we needed and even those things we wanted. Many of my best memories of my mom were spent decorating the house for Christmas with her, or spending summer nights out on our boat on the lake. I knew I was loved. What more could a kid ask for?

It wasn't until 1985 that things dramatically changed for my mother. My father, who was at the ripe age of 45 died suddenly and unexpectedly from a massive heart attack while on a business trip. I can only remember my mom throwing up for about a week when I think back to that awful time. I can remember her being in her room for days on end. I remember her grief, her tears.

She used to tell me that if it wasn't for my brother and I, she would have never made it through that difficult time. After that, things did become harder for her. She went from being a stay at home mom to a working single mother of 2. We moved to a new city, and a new culture. Not only did my mom have to support our family now, she also had to figure out how to keep us all from going crazy with grief over my father. I think she did the best she could.

She read books a lot. And I mean like 1-2 books a week. The only TV show she ever watched was Johnny Carson, and when ole Johnny went off the air, that was it for her and TV. She threw herself into more books and puzzles. After finding a full time job though, that didn't leave much time for her to do all those things she enjoyed. She still found time to spend with friends and with us, but it was never the same.

Fast forward to the early 1990's. I guess you could say that is the very first time I remember my mother a little 'off'. Now you could say, oh, she was only in her 40's. How could anyone notice? Well I did. I remember her saying that she was getting old, and she couldn't remember 'all those things' anymore. I was disturbed by this, because it was during this time that I became very involved in my family history. I was constantly asking questions about her mother, her grandmother. .

It was then that I remember her saying, "Oh Granny had Alzheimer's." It was an awful disease, she didn't even know who we were when she died, and I didn't want to take you and your brother because I didn't want it to upset you. You were both so little.

I researched Alzheimer's. Just what is it? What is this disease that plagued my family? Had anyone else in my family died from it? How does someone get this disease? Is it hereditary?

These were all questions I wanted to know the answers to. It became very important to me to find out about my family history. My mom helped where she could, but she always like to say that "Family History was more of your Dad's thing." I wonder if maybe she couldn't remember things even that far back.