quote:

ORIGINAL: Termyn8or

Whatever your beliefs, if you could possibly think some good wishes for someone with the initials PZ in Cleveland, I would appreciate it. That's my Mom.

After working all her life, a few weeks ago she finally retired. After all the years of scrapping and scraping she eventually got a good job. As a divorced Mother she did more than most, with very little reward. Us kids were hell, but we were young and dumb.

She gave her all for us, and then some. She put up with a drunk, and when that crossed the line she threw him out (Dad) and fended for herself and us. Games ? We didn't even have a friggin Monopoly game. We were lucky to have a TV. And if you think that's bad, her Mother, Grandma told me about real poverty. From what I'm told, stories from Greatgrandma would make Grandma look like a rich princess. The old country.

Ma's last job was the best, she got some recognition, and of course the right money. She wanted to retire early, but did not. Now she, as of a couple weeks ago, is officially retired. The company threw money at her a couple of times, but at 65 she said this is it, I am done.

It is time for her to have time. Her time. She is pretty much set for life, and not from winning the lottery or some shit, from HARD WORK. And very little reward, she saw her daughter become a good person and her son become, well what I am.

Today may have been our last hug.

Tomorrow she goes in for a quadruple bypass. The time before that when I saw her, at 65 she looked like she ws 50 at most. Today she looked a bit older. She had multiple heart attacks in a quite short time.

Statistically, they say the older you have a heart attack the more your chances of survival. I'm glad she waited. As my sister and I chatted with her in the ICU I made it a point to make her laugh. I did get a pretty good chuckle out of her and the lines on the monitor moved.

Whatever, because though I don't want to, I could handle losing my Ma. That's not the point, it is now her time, she is pretty much set with her retirement. All her stuff is paid off, work is going to give her her workstation to take home and eventually I figure I'll hook up a router and get it online.

This is her time to have the time to explore. Research the net, go gambling or SHOPPING ! Whatever. She earned it. Seeing her die or infirm I could handle personally,. I am stoic and mature and in control, but to see her get cheated out of the time in her life when life doesn't suck as much is hard to swallow.

Things are not all that bleak. At one point her BP was 120 over 60, which is a good indication that much heart muscle damage has not happened, yet. But this is not a 15 minute procedure.

I do not ask for good wishes because of me. It is because of her. She is by far the strongest Woman I know, and now that she can finally relax, this happens. Life can really suck sometimes.

I value old people, very much so. They can tell you about history that is very little known, or even unknown. Even though I came from Parents who divorced, in a way I am not from a broken home. And that is to my Mother's credit. I had books and she let me take apart the ol man's hifi. That'll teach him :-)

We shall see if I cross the bridge tomorrow.

If you got down to here you probably read it, thanks. I appreciate it.

I do as well.
 
What a great story.  You paint pictures exceptionally.
 
"Ma" is in my prayers.
 
Tell her I said hello :)