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Heartwings Love Notes 776 - A Thank You to my Mom

Heartwings says, "We need to acknowledge with thanks the gifts we receive from our mothers."

This week I received a loving card in the mail from one of my three dear daughters. In it she expressed her thanks to me for what I
had given her as well as for what I continue to give her. She lives at quite a distance from me so we do not see one another often. We
do however do our best to keep in touch with mail and emails. It was a precious card and it was even more precious to read her
acknowledgement of the little things I do for her as we continue to communicate and to share our lives together.

Although I cannot write her a letter or call her on the phone, I began thinking about what I might be grateful to my late mother for.
There is a long list beginning with how she always insisted on my wearing a hat on the beach and cover up as well to protect my skin
from the sun. Today, with the prevalence of skin cancer among my contemporaries and even those younger than I, I am especially
grateful for her good advice. It is thought that the early exposure to excess sun is a precursor to skin cancer. She had a permanent
tan on her back from her teenage years of sun exposure in Cuba where her German father was in the diplomatic service; later she
had numerous bouts with skin cancer.

Though I haven't thought much about this until recently, I realize that she was an immigrant, and what that meant especially in her
early years in the country. It was the outset of what became WWII that she married my father and came to this country from
Germany. As a child I remember seeing a movie taken of part of their honeymoon showing Nazis marching. She had to endure
suspicions and even dislike for her nationality, even from her in-laws. Fortunately she spoke perfect English and quickly became a
citizen. She was herself very courageous, and she encouraged me to stand up for myself when I was picked on in school for not
being athletic or slender. In addition she always supported me when I shared my grief at not being able to fit in.

She encouraged my creativity, keeping the little booklets I made for her even until I was much older and then giving them back to me.
She applauded my early efforts to play the guitar and urged me to write my own songs. She pushed originality as a virtue, praising it
above all in everything I did. I think of her often and wish her well as she makes her way through whatever is next for us all in the
afterlife. I am sure her bright spirit is still learning and growing and perhaps she is in some way practicing the art she did so
beautifully in this life to enhance the walls of the angels' heavenly homes.

May you have happy memories of the gifts you receive from your mom.
 

I love to hear from readers and would be honored if you would comment and let me know any suggestions or thoughts. If a friend sent you this, you can sign up at my web site, www.heartwingslovenotes.com, where more love notes can be found in the archives.

Blessings and Best Regards,
Tasha Halpert
 

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