Remembering Mom

April 10. Another year has come and gone since the passing of my mom. I always try to prep myself for this day and tell myself it is just another day. However, every year I still get emotional and sad about losing my mom when I was just 19. She was a good woman. She always put her family first and loved nothing more than to be with us. I wasn't sure what I wanted to focus on this year when I posted about her. So I thought I would share a few moments I remember about my mom.
My dad was in a bowling league on Thursday nights when I was growing up. When my brother and sister went to college and it was just the two us that night, we made it our shopping night. We would go to Green Bay and eat out, shop, and usually stop to visit Uncle Dennis and Aunt Evie. My mom liked to eat at Taco Bell and always ordered a mexican pizza. However, she liked to eat in the car. She would send me in to order my food and then have me bring it back to the car. We of course would listen to polkas while we ate. Sometimes we would stop at Storheim's for ice cream on the way home. It was our special day together.
Another story I remember was driving to Hot Springs, Arkansas for spring break with my family. My parents were so good to us and took us somewhere every year. During this particular trip, my mom was on predizone, which is a steroid. We had packed lunches to eat in the car on the drive down. We had all finished eating when we hear this secret crunching coming from the back seat. My mom had stashed away chips and dip because the meds made her hungry. We all laughed because she would say, "What, I'm hungry." And then she would laugh. On this same trip, the NCAA tournament was on. My mom liked Duke because she had a dog named Duke growing up. When the game started, my mom opened the condo door and yelled, "Here, Duke!" Again, this was just my mom being silly ;)
A final story is about the last time I saw my mom. Jolene and Brian had picked me up from college at 4am so we could get to Madison in time to see my mom before her surgery. It was very special because we were all able to sit around in her room for about 3 hours just talking and laughing. I even remember laying in bed next to her. When it came time for the doctors to take her to surgery, she hugged each of us and she told me" I love you, Tootie." And as she went down the hall we could hear her tell the nurse, "I have a great family. I have great kids."
Never forget you mom.