A Poem from My Mom - 40 years later

After my Mom passed away on Dec. 1, 2008, my Dad began keeping a diary to journal the grief that he was experiencing after losing his mate of 59 years.  As he would make an entry he would email it to my 2 brothers and myself.  What a treasure!  In the early months following her death these entries were quite frequent, but as time went on, they grew less . When I got online this morning to check my email, there was a new entry to his diary.  I wanted to share just a "snippet" of it with you.

We thought that we had gone through and found any and everything that Mom had left, but this past week Dad ran across some papers that Mom had kept some of her "secret thoughts" on.  On one of those papers was a poem that she had written to me but had never given to me.  It was written when I was going to my first big "whing ding." I was a Junior in high school and had been invited by a young man to Bluefield College in West Virginia to attend a big May Day celebration. I remember it like it was yesterday.  Mom had made me a beautiful formal dress to wear and I felt just like a queen when I put it on.  I was excited beyond words about this event and following is the poem that she wrote to me concerning that week-end.

You're getting ready for your first big social event,

Did you know my darling daughter, you were heaven sent? 

On this occasion my mind goes back

It seems only yesterday I had diapers to starch.

Now you are so grown up and I feel kinda sad.

I'll try to be understanding and not act so bad.

Be careful my darling, love is certainly grand

But with your heart pounding madly, it can get out of hand.

Remember your creator and the things you've been taught

But the devil's just waiting so please don't get caught.

(By one of his tricks, that is)

We trust you completely and love you dearly,

We'll see you Sunday and hope you'll bring cheers.

I have no idea why my Mom did not give the poem to me at that time, but perhaps it was written just for her to express her feelings.  Perhaps she thought that someday she would give it to me or I would find it after she was gone.  Memories of her are so precious to me and not a day goes by that I do not think of her and miss her.  Below is the last picture taken of me and my precious Mom.