Things To Do Before Your Mother Dies

Yes, Mothers’ Day is just around the corner.  Restaurant reservations have been made, flowers will be purchased, and Hallmark stock will rise temporarily.  I’m hoping to receive a handmade card from my daughter, and perhaps one of my favorite meals cooked by my husband (yes, most are my favorites, because they are ALWAYS made by my husband).  But, I guess what I really want, is to be able to mope about and miss my mother.

Many of you have lost your mothers, but for those who haven’t, here are some things to do before your mother dies.  Or should I say here are some things I should have done before MY mother died.

Gather up her stray writing:  grocery lists, calendar entries, knitting instructions, your name scribbled on your brown lunch bag.  I guess this last one is just for the young ones out there.  I wish I had saved one or two of those bags from elementary school.

Take a picture of your mother enjoying herself.  Perhaps while telling a story about an old boyfriend and making everyone around the Thanksgiving table laugh until they cry (including herself).

Tell her you love her.  The last time I saw my mother conscious, she told me she loved me.  I don’t think she had ever done that before.  Before I could say anything in return, she quickly changed the subject, and much later I realized I had left the hospital room without saying that I loved her.

Well.  What are you waiting for?