Tribute to Grandmothers on Mother’s Day

As I stood searching for the perfect Mother’s Day card for my mom I found myself reaching for the cards dedicated to grandmothers, forgetting for just a split second that they are no longer with me. Oh how I miss those two wonderful women, but more importantly, knowing how very, very fortunate I was to have not one, but two, amazing grandmothers in my life and how each of them shaped me and helped me become the woman I am today.  My grandmothers or “Mom Maws,” as I called them, were very different individuals and I like to think I have the best of both in me.

Mom Maw Cybel was the sweetest woman in all of the world, I’ve always referred to her as my angel. I don’t know where I would be today without her loving, patient, constant presence and everlasting love and support to guide my way.  She was one of those remarkable women that I admired for her constant devotion to the Lord, her untiring gift of listening with an open, nonjudgmental heart and always knowing just the right thing to say. She was my confidant, my support, my strength and my inspiration. She loved birds and to this day, when I see a cardinal or a blue jay I think of her and when the sweet sounds of chirping greet me in the morning in the spring, I like to think it’s mom maw telling me hello and that she’s watching over me. I can still picture her sweet little frame sitting in the chair on my mom’s back porch, smiling, with open arms ready to greet me.  Bette Midler’s lyrics in “Wind Beneath My Wings” touches my heart as the words truly do express my feelings for her:

Did you ever know that you’re my hero

And everything I would like to be?

I can fly higher than an eagle

For you are the wind beneath my wings

Mom Maw Bonnie was fun-loving, knew how to enjoy life to the fullest and cherished the company of her many close friends. She was a business woman, strong minded, independent, feisty and always seemed to look at life with the “glass half full” mentality. I always admired her mental strength and independence in the face of adversity. Mom Maw always loved the water/sun/beach and she lived and loved her later years in Florida. She passed her love of the beach onto me and when I’m there, standing on the beach overlooking the ocean, I can feel her spirit. Growing up, she and I took many road trips to the beaches in North Carolina, just the two of us, rolling down the highway listening and singing loudly to our favorite county music.  My favorite song of all was Dolly Parton’s “Coat of Many Colors” and to this day, whenever I hear that song, it immediately brings back wonderful memories of our road trips to the beach together.

If you are blessed enough to have a wonderful grandmother in your life, embrace her, and her love and cherish each and every moment you have with her.

Happy Mother’s Day, Mom Maw’s…I love you.

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