this is no regular day! this is my mama's birthday!in honor of the greatest person who ever lived (they say people idealize the departed, but i am not one of those people), this post is all about my mom, ceri jo.
what made her so unlike any other? oh, kids. this post could never end. but since it must, i will leave with you a few great memories, tidbits, evidence of the comic mastermind who now roams freely through the universe. you'd better watch yourself, your chocolate covered orange sticks, and your diet pepsi.
i remember...
:: getting notes in my sack lunch at school written on napkins and signed with x's and o's
:: getting letters in college covered in stickers (under which were hidden 10, 20 and 50 dollar bills)
:: being taught that even queen elizabeth, when by herself, probably passes gas
:: being picked up from school when i was sick, except...when i would try to get into the car, she would pull forward just a little bit. over and over again
:: having to adhere to a strict ONLY 2-at-a-time rule when eating cookies, cupcakes or brownies
:: night shopping
:: driving lessons: how to "give a little wave" in the rear view when a driver let me merge ahead. and how to discretely and sweetly give the bird (with both hands on the wheel) to a driver who ignored my blinker
:: being taught to get down on my knees to pray. but why? "because you can"
:: stopping to get fast food in a kid's meal so we'd have toys for the kids at church
:: wonderful trips to the fabric store, leaving no christmas decoration unnoticed
:: wearing wigs for our family picture
:: working on christmas and easter crafts during spring and fall general conference sessions
i told you i could go on forever. so i think i will. some of you knew her. leave a little memory, will you?
"all this beauty...you might have to close your eyes."-deb talan/the weepies
18 comments:
:: driving lessons: being mocked after actually giving a little wave (that wasn't little enough)
:: doing the happy dance
:: holding my breath on the columbia river bridge so our car wouldn't explode
and I think the correct spelling of your post's title is:
Leeeet's SEEWHOHASTHEBIGGESTMOUTH!!!
:: sitting in her bathroom watching her put makeup on and asking where she was going. "Nowhere, i just feel better when i have my face on." Then we would both go back to her bed and watch tv.
:: special cards left on my bed, on any particular day, with love notes in them.
:: Little House and oatmeal in the mornings before school & work
:: trying to take naps with her but being too young too appreciate them and slipping out of bed so quietly she didn't know I had left.
:: Refilling big plastic Ohio State mugs of ice water
:: singing silly words to church hymns in sacrament meeting.
i could go on and on, but now i'm va-clepmt! (sp RD?)
i'm so glad you did that, SC, i thought about her all day yesterday and told everyone i saw that it was my momma's birfday. Wonder what she'd look like at 55? Gorge. Bet she'd love that senior discount!
Clearly a beautiful and talented woman from the inside out. Through the legacy of her children, the people you have become, and the loving memories of your dad I feel like I know her and truly wish I had. I think we might have been friends. You honor her with the way you live and as a mother myself, there is no doubt in my mind that she is so very proud of you. Happy Birthday to your wonderful mother.
I wish I had met your mom. I bet we'd be kindred spirits, seeing as our b-days are so close. She must have been great with how great her children are. And when I get to that great big library in the sky I'll look her up...get it!? I crack myself up!
I love you!
:: ACE!!
:: Chocolate chips for memorizing primary talks.
:: Trusting me even though I didn't deserve it.
:: MmmmmIDoooo?
:: Is everybody happy? Well I should say.
:: Seeing her take such great care of little Judd.
:: 573,000 other small things that just made her wonderful.
I remember her telling stories of the awards she won in sewing and showing us her Vogue super-hard jacket patterns while she helped you make that denim jumper for church. You said it was too casual for church and she chuckled and asked why you spent so much time on it if you wouldn't wear it to church. I was hanging out at your house with my nose in your business cuz my house and business was not as cool!
I also distinctly remember her telling me it takes great talent to have a boy, girl, boy, girl pattern in children!
I have wonderful memories of Ceri too, but I think I'll just re-read yours and wipe this little tear from my eye. I wish she were here for our sister trips. I'm going to invite her on the next one.
A scenario that could have presented itself after she left was that you kids and your families would somehow not be in our lives as much as if she were here, but thankfully you are, and I am and ever will be so grateful for that. Loves.
i remember thinking you had the most beautiful mom in the world. like a model.
and one time i called her fat and she just smiled, because she was pregnant. and i was only little but i always hated myself for that.
and the beautiful white duvee (sp?) that you had, and didn't she make that? or at the least the cover?
and her willingness to take me in while my parents went on a trip. and it was my birthday. and she said that i could have anything that i wanted for breakfast. i cried a lot (because i was dramatic like that) and she just kept trying to make me happy. and that was amazing. she should have thrown me out.
and as a young woman leader - giving the most amazing lessons. and teaching me that it was okay to write in my books. and learning that it was actually a great idea. and i remember her showing us the book, Jonathan Livingston Seagull and how much it meant to her. and how she bent the corners and what she wrote.
and the handmade angels that she made for us in YW - they had blonde hair. and I always thought they looked a little like her. and i now sit mine on the Christmas tree every December.
I thought of her all day yesterday.
She was such the best lady ever! I loved her so much, and even though I didn't grow up by you guys and get to know her as well as I should have, I will always appreciate what a wonderful sis she was to my mom.
I still have my blue and white striped bear she made me, and I take good care of it, and I will keep it always and forever to remind me of that dear lady!
I think she would look fab at 55, and of course she would enjoy a senior discount!! And Neesh- she should definitely be invited to the next sisters trip. LOVE YOU CERI JO BABY!
I loved your Mom and have great memories of her! One of my favorites was when she was visiting you in Provo and called and invited me to lunch! I think it was just before she left this crazy place. I was so touched that she would think to call me and was so interested in how I was doing. (I am sitting here crying just thinking of her!) She is one amazing woman, someone I will always look up to and strive to be like.
so far, based on comment frequency, Richard Dandelion has the biggest mouth.
Duh!
I love Aunt Ceri! I remember in while I was in elementary school she would send me letters full of fun stickers and different designs. We were "pen pals" and it was always such a highlight to read her letters! She was so kind and sweet...there really aren't words to describe her! xoxox
Some Ceri quotes:
"Duncan, I see your undawaaya."
To my kids (separately): "I like you the best. But don't tell anybody."
While changing the sheets in the middle of the night:
Ceri: "I can't believe you wet the bed again!"
Me: "Ceri, my pajamas aren't wet."
Ceri: "Oh."
In her defense, it was usually me. And by usually, I mean pretty much every time except that one.
I idolized her. She was the best!
LOL, shawn! those are goodies! i didn't know you called her wee wee. cute girls. you should have called her much worse, i hear, from the tricks she pulled.
The picture of Ceri--is it in front of Wapato High School? She sure had a sense of style, didn't she!? Even in the early married days when she didn't have two nickels to rub together. When I was first married and we were poor, I just wore Fred's Law Review T-shirt everywhere all the time. It was lovely indeed.
Nicea, it's from BYU. She's standing in front of the now defunct SFLC Building facing the Kimball Tower.
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