In Honor of Mother's Day

I would like to introduce you to 3 of the most courageous women I have known in my life:

My Great Grandmother, Aileen (after whom my middle name was chosen). The first time I can remember meeting my Great-Grandmother, I was 8 years old, and quite the tom boy. Grandma had been raised in the times when young girls were young ladies, and my climbing trees in the backyard didn't quite fit with that. So I didn't like her too much, and for years held on to those memories. When I was 16, my family took a vacation to to go see my Great-Grandparents. At the time Grandma was in a nursing home, and was having a hard time remembering who people were. She always remembered who I was though, as at the time I was using my middle name. I went to visit her everyday for as long as we were there, and left that former dislike behind. My Great-Grandmother lived through the Depression, raised a daughter when my Great-Grandfather was away in WWII, and later in life, started painting. Her paintings are my favorites and I have several of them. She was in my humble opinion, the first matriarch of our family and when she died in the late 90's, the world lost a great woman.

My Grandma Dona: What's not to love about Grandma Dona:) Grandma Dona went back to school later in life, and became a drug and alcohol counselor in Massachussetts helping many people kick their addictions. She has always been on the other end of the line when I call and always sends me stuff when I am deployed. I love visiting Grandma and don't get to do it often enough. One of my favorite visits took place in January '98, when I was 17. Grandma had broken her wrist on a visit to see my new cousin in Oklahoma, and on return to her house needed help. I had just discovered that my choir had taken their mystery trip to Gatlinburg, TN, rather then to FL like I had thought. I was upset about this, so Mummy sent me up to MA to stay with Grandma. I had to wait a whole week and half for snow, but when it did........... I had so much fun creating snow angels, sledding, and playing in the snow. And best of all I had my Grandma all to myself.

And of course, the most important woman in my life, MUMMY:-D My rock, my support group, my counselor, my stylist, my confidant, my best friend, and of course my mother all rolled into one. She is the most courageous woman I know. She has had to make some of the toughest decisions that no mother should have to make, to protect her children. She has supported me in all my choices, whether or not she agreed with them, and is the one person I trust without a doubt. I tell you what, don't threaten her children, cause she will roll right over you! Hehehe

To Mummy and Grandma Dona, I love you very much, and Happy Mother's Day.

In Memoriam, Margaret Aileen Beavers.