Corner View: Mother

This photo was taken in May of 1997,

the day of my graduation from Muskingum College

in New Concord, Ohio

I was 43 years old.

My strongest advocate is pictured here with me:

my mother.

I have cropped Dad out of this particular shot

because this corner view's topic is "mother."

(The original is in one of my scrap books, so Dad is still in tact there.)

I went back to college at age 39 after an unwanted and devastating divorce.

I had a core group of supporters/cheerleaders/advocates/etc.

But the top one was Mom.

I honestly don't know that without my mom's love, acceptance, encouragement, and food

if I could have made it through

those four tumultous years of

working, going to college, and raising a teenage son as a single mom.

And yes, I said food.

Some evenings after a grueling day,

I would call Mom up and ask if she had enough for a third person.

She always said yes, though at times she'd warn that it would be

"a little of this and a little of that---they were cleaning up the left-overs."

Well folks, Mom's left-overs were delicious,

so I always said "That'll be great, Mom."

Actually, I just needed some TLC and Mama was good at that--

at least at that point in her life and my life.

She was not a perfect mother and I was not a perfect daughter.

But we loved each other and in those last five years of her life,

when I needed her most, she came through for me with flying colors.

For more views on mothers,

check out Francesca's blog Fuoriborgo

I'm also linking up with Emily.