Slang's Anti-Singularity
  • Slanghome
  • Slangblog
  • Slangpuzzles
    • CurrentPuzzles
    • ScholarPuzzle
    • PastPuzzles

To My Mom

1/6/2022

4 Comments

 
Picture
Elaine Camper Lang: 26 March 1935 - 5 January 2022
Technically, I suppose, I, and my sibs, are now orphans. Given the youngest of us is over fifty, I guess it’s not bad. On January 5, 11:50 pm MST, my mom passed away. It was not unexpected. So not unexpected, that I made sure to visit before leaving the country, because I really didn’t think she would make it through to when I might return. She slipped peacefully and quietly away in the comfort of her own bed, with a couple of her kids nearby, and surrounded by the treasures of a lifetime.
 
Mom was a fiery woman, living pretty much up to the Sicilian stereotype. Sure, she could be cantankerous, but goddammit, she was my mom.  She busted the stereotype when it came to cooking though. From Meatloaf Tuesday to the Shoe Leather pot roast complete with a side of canned, pale, tasteless peas or asparagus, she was not your stereotypical Italian mom in the kitchen. Her Bolognese sauce was exceptional though, and a staple on Sundays. She wasn’t a fan of cooking, she did it out of necessity for the brood she raised, but goddammit, she was my mom.
I’ll never forget the singing though. She was a beautiful woman with a beautiful soprano voice. She sang everywhere, and was part of her church choir for as long as I can remember. She even traveled a bit with a choral group. It was her jam. 

​Her sitting at the piano playing and singing Christmas carols, as I lay on the floor staring at the tree (I was probably eight or so) is a favorite memory of mine. Even when I would sit on the ugliest green couch in the world in my jammies to get my fingernails clipped, she would be humming some tune or another. We even shared some musical appreciation after I went to college. To my surprise, she enjoyed some of the artists I played - Roxy Music especially.
 
She always encouraged me to follow my dreams and ambitions. I remember her reading a story I wrote and telling me I was good at it, and to keep it up. Maybe, if I had, I would be good at it. Beyond the writing, she supported my decisions I know she disagreed with. Oh, I could tell she didn’t like it, but she didn’t oppose, and offered support.​These last years were really hard on her though, and I am happy that she has finally found rest and peace. Her physical and mental health really suffered in the last year or so. Physically, well, old age and a lot of pain. Mentally, she was struggling as well. My dad was her total rock and when he died nearly ten years ago, she was really, really lost. She kept a tight hold on her remaining anchors: her dog and her mementos, particularly my dad’s favorite chair. It was broken down, and she never had it fixed and, as far as I know, she never sat in it either. When her pup finally died, she really lost the will to stay. When I was with her in October, she probably said “Lord, take me anytime. I’m ready.” a dozen times in an hour. I guess her body finally decided it was ready, too. I’m not a believer in any afterlife, but if there is one, I'm certain my mom and dad are happy, healthy and together again.
 
The last words I got to say to her were via phone just yesterday. "Goodbye, Mom. I love you. It's ok to go now." I hope she heard them.
4 Comments
Shannon
1/6/2022 11:27:39 am

What a beauty! She looks like she would have a sharp wit too. AND she was graced with a beautiful singing voice? Eh, Why cook?! Big hugs to you! And a whiskey 🥃
Make it a double!

Reply
Ken
1/10/2022 07:51:22 am

Those are nice memories Steve. Glad you were able to speak with her again.

Reply
MEB
1/10/2022 08:07:54 pm

:-( I hadn’t seen those pictures. Man, you look like your dad.

Reply
Jeff Prater
1/15/2022 10:55:35 am

Great memories Steve and well written.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    RSS Feed

    Author

    Just a guy out exploring the world. Former world-class never-was endurance runner.

    ​Hit me up, and we'll catch a beer or coffee in your town.


    Follow @slang4201

    Archives

    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    May 2021
    October 2020
    September 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    July 2019
    October 2018
    September 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    November 2017
    October 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    June 2015
    August 2014
    January 2014
    October 2013
    September 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    August 2011
    March 2011
    October 2010
    July 2010
    January 2009
    December 2008
    October 2008

    Categories

    All
    2011
    Alfama
    Alternate Energy
    Android
    Angela Sullivan
    Animals
    Antiques
    Apple
    Ash Canyon
    Astronomy
    AT&T
    Australia 2022
    Bailout
    Battery
    Bicycling
    Biometrics
    Books
    Brisbane
    Cairns
    Canary Islands
    Carrier Iq
    Carson City
    Cascais
    Centennial
    C Hill
    C-Hill
    Christmas
    Climate
    Clothing
    Coding
    Colorado
    Columbus
    Cramps
    Curiosity
    Dad
    Dardanelles Lake
    Dell
    Dick's Lake
    Dilbert
    Diving
    Eagle Lake
    Earworms
    Eating Problems
    Eclipse
    Economy
    Ecuador
    Education
    Eldorado Canyon
    El Valle
    Energy
    Errors
    Espionage
    Europe 2019
    Evi
    Fallon
    Family
    Fontanillis Lake
    Food
    Gamboa
    Garmin
    Geocaching
    Goals
    Google
    Google Earth
    Grouse Lake
    Hiking
    Inov8
    Investing
    Ipad
    Iphone
    Iron Mountain
    Lanzarote
    Legislatures
    Lisbon
    Mac
    Market
    Market Drop
    Mars
    Mctarnahan
    Medicine
    Microsoft Word
    Motivation
    Mountain Biking
    Moving Minutes
    Music
    Nevada Day
    Nfc
    Ohio
    Olympics
    Openoffice
    Opportunity
    Panama 2018
    Panama 2022
    Paper Airplane
    People
    Playa Coronado
    Politics
    Portugal
    Prison Hill
    Privacy
    Puts
    Puzzles
    Quito
    Race
    Rant
    Reno
    Retrospective
    Roosevelt
    Running
    Running Dynamics
    Saddest Cities
    Safe & Sober
    Science
    Scuba
    Shoes
    Shopping
    Sicily
    Sierra
    Sierra Canyon
    Sintra
    Slangsploration
    Snl
    Soccer
    Software
    Spasms
    Spirit
    Sullivan Canyon
    Svn
    Tahoe
    Tahoe Rim Trail
    Taormina
    Taxes
    Technology
    Transit
    Travel
    Trees
    Vba
    Velma Lakes
    Venus
    Verizon
    Violin
    Watches
    Weather
    Wolframalpha
    Words
    Wrestling
    Writing
    Xkcd
    Yawbe
    Yoga

This is ALL MINE, I tell you! copyright 2010-2022