Mothers' Day

As we were walking out of the memorial service for my mother, OilMan's sister looked at me and said, "Well, you're the matriarch now." I was quite taken aback and about to deny it, when I realized that she was right. Although I couldn't see myself stepping into my mother's shoes, I was, by default, the matriarch. I never really saw her as a matriarch, but quietly she was always there ready to go to bat for my brother and me no matter what we got ourselves into. There were very few rules in our household, but I never wanted to betray the implicit trust she had in us. There are so many things I would like to ask her now that it is too late. So many unanswered questions and untold stories. I suppose, like many children, I took my mother for granted, yet the things that are most important to me all came from her, perhaps through osmosis. As I get older, I realize how many ways I am like her. It has been many years since that memorial service, yet I still find myself wondering, what would mom do in this situation?

What I really wish is that she had lived long enough to see her great grandchildren grow up. In many ways, we never really know what we are doing raising a family, but without our mothers, we wouldn't have a clue! I'm proud to be the matriarch of a fine family.

Happy Mothers' Day to all of you who are celebrating today....