You and I in the car...

Mothers Day 2008

Two years have past since our last Mothers Day, they have been hard and have taken a heavy toll on me. I've got a lot to tell you, I just wish I could. I love you and miss you Mom, more than ever.

Neil

June 24, 2007

Happy Birthday Mom!

I love and miss you so very much!!!
Neil

Mothers Day 2007

There are no words this year, no heartfelt prose to mark the occasion, just the unimaginable pain of losing both you and Caleb. I don't know what to do today.

I love and miss you so very much Momma!

Neil

September 9, 2006

I wrote the words below titled "You & I in the car" for Momma on Mother's Day 2006 and gave them to her along with the picture below in a heart shaped frame. When I went to give them to her she was sleeping, resting after another bad night. I could not make myself wake her, she was so exhausted lately, so I left them in a gift bag where she would find them when she woke. On the drive home I didn't know if I was going to make it, I knew it was my last Mother's Day with her and I could barely see through the tears. I write these words today as I prepare for my Mothers memorial service and again I can barely see through the tears.

I love and miss you so very much Momma!
Neil

You & I in the car…

The picture I gave you today, on Mothers Day, is one of my first remembered road trips, it is one of great meaning to me. Some of my fondest memories of us as mother & son are in the car, the trip to the redwoods in the picture, of leaving Oregon, of making trips back from Washington in the middle of the night on treacherous roads, of learning to drive at age 11 behind the wheel of the hot rod 57 Ford (Teaching me to make it backfire even though it could have blown the motor), of moving back to Oregon with Russ, of leaving Oregon for the East coast upon his passing, of the countless moves beyond that, and most recently a road trip to the Mayo clinic.

You and I in the car, off to another great adventure, learning experiences that will last my lifetime, memories of us together that I will cherish forever. There are not enough words to thank you for what you have done for me or meant to me or the things those little moments in the car have taught me. No matter how many times I have said “I love you” those words can never express the power of the meaning behind them each and every time I have spoke them. I am so proud to have you for a mother. You are an amazing woman, one who has experienced more in your life than others can even imagine. I am constantly in awe of your knowledge, strength, and love. There is no woman on this Earth that has done more to ensure that her children were given the power to succeed than you, something I have come to realize during those moments of reflection while you & I were in the car.

Today I thank you for being my mother, for teaching me that I could be anything, and for making that possible even at great hardship to yourself. I can only hope that my children, your Grandchildren, Julie, Josh, Tim, Charlie, and Ben, will be able to learn that they can be anything and pass that along to their children. As for me, all I can say today is a very simple I Love You Mom and Thank You for always believing. Thank You Mom for memories of us in the car!

Dear Mom,

May 12, 2007

I caged Charlie's tomato plants today, it wasn't easy or fun, the memories are still very powerful. I'll explain it to him tomorrow.

I love you!

Neil