We've talked about my mom. Married at 16y/o to my dad when he was 21. I don't know how or why she dropped out of school. She never graduated high school.

Innocent, yet, she was smart. I could have never passed the real estate boards (to receive her real estate license.) I could have never been a department head of non-foods at Marsh Grocery and Hughes.

She was hard working, never sought nor caused drama, kept family business inside the family, loyal. Home immaculate. Very likable. Neat, delicate but was never afraid of tackling hard work. Loved dogs and horses. She was a farm girl.

Versatile: not many people can say, "My mom could ride a cow." Mine could.

You would have liked my mom.

We have also talked about how she didn't protect me, really, from my brother, my teachers, the neighborhood or my dad. Some of that was due to her "innocence." She didn't know how to do it any better. It wasn't because she was mean or did not care. She was a good person.

Her last few years were stressful. I wanted her to have whatever she wanted.
She didn't want a breathing tube. She didn't want a nursing home. She wanted me. I tried really hard. I really did.

Regardless of everything else- I tried, and failed somewhat, to protect my mother.....who didn't always protect me.