….September 11, 2001. May we never forget the destruction wreaked on our country nor the 3,000+ who lost their lives that day from the terrorist attacks.
Also remembering my mother who would be 94 years young were she alive today – we celebrated her last birthday on September 11, 1997 with dinner at Leong’s Tea House which was one of her favorite restaurants in Springfield – the other was the Shady Inn. It was her first birthday in over 60 years when she didn’t have my father as part of the festivities but she put on her game face and acted happy for Steve and Tammy, my Aunt Dorothy and Uncle Bob and me. 12 days later she took her final journey and joined my dad and sister.
Thanks Mother for all the great memories you left behind – I still hear your voice expressing either approval or exasperation with me almost daily. You taught me great habits including going to church and promptly writing thank you notes. If you were alive today I know exactly how you would feel about email thank you notes! Your legacy lives on with Tammy and Ralph and now Julia (your namesake) and Lydia – you would be proud of them all.
I love you and miss you, Mother.
Wow. I didn’t realize our last dinner with Grammie was on September 11. I remember it was a great dinner, but there was a sadness in the air as we were all missing Keck. Somehow I think we all knew that Grammie would join him soon. She never really recovered from losing him. She will forever live on in our memories and in the lessons she taught us.