Who would you like to have dinner with?

I don't know where I heard the question presented to someone...I do know it was on TV, but since I'm usually doing some type of hand or machine work I seem to listen more than watch...but the question was asked "who would you like to have dinner with?". 

I got thinking about who I would want to have dinner with...of course, the so called 'famous' people, historians, etc. came to mind but I have to say my 'mum' was at the front of the line.

My mother passed away November 5th, 1982 at the age of 58.  She had Hodgkin's disease which she fought for almost 6 years.  I have to say I would give anything now to sit and have dinner with her and tell her all the things I never said when she was alive.  I would tell her I was sorry for judging her for the choices she made in her life; for the times that I didn't call her because I was too busy or just didn't want to talk to her.  Sorry that I didn't know what to say to her when she called me one day telling me she was "scared" because of the cancer.  It was the only time my mother ever said she was frightened or felt sorry for herself.  I just held on to the phone but didn't reply to her.  I didn't know what to say.  She was such a strong woman and this was so unlike her...

Now I would tell her how proud I/we all were of her strength during her chemo treatments, days of being so sick and yet she still traveled for her job, had us over for the holidays, would come to our house and was still one of the best grandma's to our kids.   Mum even did some talks for the Red Cross speaking to other cancer patients. 

I would tell her now that I'm older I've learned we all need to make choices in our lives and we can't make choices others want us to make.  Yes, we are all selfish beings but with maturity we see what being selfish can do...it's a shame it takes us so long in life to realize how those choices will impact the rest of our lives (and others!).

Mum, I know you are watching me...and know that I love you and think of you often...sometimes with tears in my eyes...other times with a smile on my face (remember the time we were shopping with Dawn Marie when she was about 2 or 3 and you had too go potty SO bad...we were laughing SO hard that you had a 'leak'!!).  We laughed and ran all the way to the car!  Of course, Jerome (kids father) had a good laugh as well over our girls day out.  Jerome always encouraged mum and I to go shopping on Saturday's!  We took the kids with us every time too.

So when I get to Florida and visit my sister, we'll have a dinner and pretend you are with us!  And of course, I'll order cherry pie with chocolate ice cream!  Just because we can!!!  Love you mum!!!