A few weeks ago I went home. Home meaning Texas. Not exactly the town where I was raised, but anytime I go to Texas, it is home....These people sound like me, which anyone who knows me, would not think that was a good thing...ha! But it IS to me. There’s that twang...that “sweet tea” talk that makes me want to relax in a big comfy chair.
I digress....I was going to Whitney to visit the folks...I could say they live in an old folks home, since they are old and live in their home...but they actually live together in a neighborhood at the ages of 90 and 85...O my! Daddy just renewed his driver’s license....of course he did!! It was actually their 67th wedding anniversary THAT day! Daddy always brings mother her coffee every morning, and once mother’s teeth are in, he gets a kiss...
A month or so ago Mother’s doctor found a walnut size cancer in her lung, and she went from Whitney to Austin, to have that thing radiated.
It was a crazy trip, where for most folks would not look forward to it or have any fun. But you would have to know my mother! “Fun” is her middle name! Mother, as long as I can remember, has always been “crafty”. She can cut, glue, knit, etc. just about anything she puts her hands on and GIVES her goodies away. So, this trip, was no different. She carries a big purse of her “makings” and everyone she comes in contact with, is a recipient of her goodness...they either get a scrubbie, a kleenex cover, a bookmark, you name it...they are going to get something, whether they like it or not! The fact that she can make anything at all is amazing, since her fingers go in every direction known to man...they are seldom idle.
The Embassy Suites, where she stayed, has never been the same! So a month later, I pull up with Mother, and my sister, Glenda, in tow for our doctor visit that week. We came for a 3 day stay, and you would have thought we were traveling with a movie star. The minute she walked in, the gal behind the desk, stopped what she was doing, and came running for a HUG from Miss Virginia! She was crying...In fact, we all got a bit blurry just seeing that everyone was “ a buzz” cause Miss Virginia had just entered the building.
We go up to our room to find they had given us a beautiful suite. There was flowers, champaign, chocolates, hors d’oeuvres,....the works! They even had towels shaped like swans, since they have real live swans swimming in their atrium. So the tears continued to flow. What sweet people honoring my mama! Then the door knocked, and the floor manager came by for a hug, along with the lady who cleaned her room last time....crazy!
The next morning, the lady who makes the breakfast came out for a hug and gave mother a mountain of bacon with her omelette. The floor manager reappeared and made sure we got everything we wanted.
Walmart was a trip! It was Valentine’s Day. She must of handed out 30 “hug” coupons. The lady at the bakery was so thrilled, that she gave us all a hug.
When we go for the doctor visit, there were hugs everywhere! The attending nurse, Amy, loved on Mother as well....and came by our hotel that night for more visit time! Amy wants to come to Whitney, and go to church with mother!....Mother always says, “it doesn’t hurt to ask”. The doctor, who loves Mother too, finally came in and told her he thinks he got all the cancer, and they would do a scan in a month to see the progress. I have never seen my mama so well received by total strangers...but then, Mother never met a stranger!
So....what do you do when you are told you have cancer? You go to Austin and celebrate life! The party begins when “Miss Virginia” enters the building!
Sure do love my mama! She talks like me too, makes the BEST sweet tea, & I know I am home when I am around her.
