We've talked about my mom. Married young. She never graduated high school.
Innocent, yet, she was smart. Mom passed the real estate boards. She was a department head at a major grocery chain. Mom was hard working- retiring three times.

My mother never sought nor caused drama, kept family business inside the family, loyal. Home immaculate. Likable. Neat. Delicate but was never afraid of tackling hard work. Loved dogs and horses.

Mom 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 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.

Love and miss you, Mom.