My daughters live in Sacramento, Calif., and Madrid, Spain, so the highlight of Mother’s Day is a video call. I remember the days when it was predicted that in the future we’d be able to see the people were talking to on the phone. It’s so great when people live so far away these days for video phone calls.
Those are my beautiful, fantastic daughters above. I love them dearly.
I often think these days about my family’s early beginnings. My parents were married during the Great Depression. They worked hard their entire lives in small, farming communities to make a living for themselves and their kids. It was a different era.
My mom worked hard as a farm wife and taking care of three daughters. When we lived in Cashmere, Wash., she raised carrots in the garden to make extra money. Later, when we were older, she thinned, ran a thinning crew, and sorted and packed apples. She was a fantastic cook, making wonderful bread, biscuits, and pies. She fixed up our farm houses with ideas she got from women’s magazines of the times. The photo was taken in 1941.
I never understood when I was young why my mom liked this photo, 1941, and had it enlarged. I look dorky with my eyes closed due to the sunshine or sleep. However, in recent years, I recognize that she looks beautiful. At age 26, with three children and struggles to get by, she may have thought this was her was one of her last changes to look glamorous.
This is another 1941 photo, with a note from my grandmother Lillian Telecky that says “Ruth and her 3 daughters.” My mom made most of our clothes when we were growing up. I learned to sew in junior high school and most of my clothes then.
I appreciate so much my mom and the care she gave to me and our family. She kept us going when times were tough and often offset my crabby dad.
Happy Mother’s Day, mom. I miss you so much.
