It feels unfathomable that it will be13 years on Sunday since my beloved mother Betty passed away. The same number of years it took to come of age and be Bat Mitzvah ( or Hebrew Recognition as my very Reform temple called it in 1968 ). My entire trajectory of John Street grade school has just passed by, which in a child’s mind seemed an eternity.
Those first 13 years of my life were filled with such milestones.
So much life packed was into 13 years. Along with learning to walk and talk, I learned to ride a bike, write a story, paint a picture and bake a cake albeit with some help from another Betty, Betty Crocker.
Yet now those 13 years feel like a blink of an eye and it seems unimaginable that she has been gone nearly the entire length of my childhood years.
I thought life would come to a standstill when she left.
This seemingly gentle woman was my life force and most powerful champion. Her loyalty, heart, and empathy knew no bounds. Among her lasting gifts of generosity was her unwavering love and belief in me which didn’t die with her but provided me with a foundation to flourish these past many years. Which by some miracle I have. And that belief has nourished and sustained me even in my darkness.
Though I still ache to see her face light up in a smile or pick up the phone to share news good and bad with her, I know my mother is with me and her signs of love are all around me. They are in fact palpable.
I know for certain, she would be overjoyed and filled with wonder and gratitude at this powerful community of caring and support I have found right here on my blog and thankful to know there are others who are enjoying the very things she so deeply encouraged in me. And still does.
Envisioning The American Dream 
A beautiful remembrance of your mother. Thank you for sharing.
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Thank you for your kind words and your ongoing support of my blog.
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There is no substitute for a mother’s love. Thank you for reminding me. I miss my mum so much.
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That makes me so happy knowing this made you think of your own mother.
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Such a heartfelt remembrance of your mother. I’m sure she would be proud of the terrific voice of social conscience you express with your blog. Thanks for sharing these most personal feelings with your readers.
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Thank you for your very kind remarks. When I began thinking of being 13, that was the age I was when I began volunteering for Bobby Kennedy for President. My mother would drive me to the headquarters and was so encouraging of my early political and social consciousness.
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I remember stuffing envelopes in that same presidential campaign, though by the time my mother (also named Betty) got my brother and I involved, we were working on behalf of Humphrey. We all know how that went.
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I love that your mothers name is Betty too! Being the dedicated democrat even at 13, I also ended up working for Humphrey which was a bit of a melancholy experience after the excitement of and enthusiasm of RFK. If you haven’t read it, you might enjoy a post I did on Bobby Kennedy, the enthusiasm we felt and that awful day in June https://wp.me/p2qifI-4wV
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I only started reading your blog after I saw a column you wrote for Next last August. At the time, I was entering a Next writing competition. I went back and read your RFK blog post and I must say that even though I wasn’t as involved with RFK on a political basis as you were, I was nonetheless aware of the sadness that enveloped the country on that day in June when hope died. (It had been dealt a grievous injury the previous April with MLK’s assassination). I think we got hope back temporarily when Obama was first elected, but now I think we’re jaded again, even with Biden as president. I don’t know if we’ll ever be able to feel that unbridled sense of hope again and that’s the truly sad thing here!
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Welcome and glad you found my blog. Until this past year, 1968 had always stood out as the most horrific year. Having 2 assassinations of two leaders literally back to back was unbearable. I agree Obama brought back that elated sense of hope, but I haven’t felt that since.
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I’m honored to know your beloved mother, Betty, through you. 💜
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Thank you Beth. It would give her joy to no end to know I have a friend such as yourself in my life.
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Sally, what a lovely tribute and I love the book-end thirteen years context. This sentence resonated with me as a wonderful lasting legacy.
“Among her lasting gifts of generosity was her unwavering love and belief in me which didn’t die with her but provided me with a foundation to flourish these past many years.”
Keith
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Thank you, Keith. I’m glad you liked that particular line. It distills the essence of the [profound sustaining love for me.
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Thank you for sharing this most beautiful well-deserved Tribute to your mother with us.
How fortunate and blessed to have been able to give, to receive and appreciate such a
never-ending Love. What a beautiful Legacy! As an orphaned daughter, mother and
grandmother, I can’t think of anything higher than that.
Much Respect, Gratitude and Appreciation to Betty and You!
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