"MOM"

Hi folks, this is Two Texas PawPaw. You know, you think about all the things that can happen to you in your lifetime that are sad, but you never realize the impact of it until it happens. I had thought about my Mother passing away because she had been quiet ill for a few months. This was back in 1989. Mom passed away in September of that year. A man whom I had met once, Jimmy Dean, from Plainview, Texas, the same Jimmy Dean who sings country music and founded the famous Jimmy Dean Sausage Company, had put out a tribute to his Mom and it suited my Mother so close, I used part of it and added parts to write this tribute to my Mom. Jimmy titled his I.O.U, and I saw no reason to try and think of a better title. It goes like this:-----MOM, FOR ABOUT 50 YEARS NOW I'VE BEEN CARRYING A BUNCH OF I.O.U'S AROUND INSIDE MY HEART AND I JUST HOPE IT'S NOT TOO LATE FOR AN ACCOUNTING. I OWE YOU FOR SO MANY THINGS, A LOT OF SERVICES LIKE NIGHT WATCHMAN FOR INSTANCE. FOR LYING AWAKE AT NIGHT AND LISTENING FOR COUGHS, CRIES, AND CREAKING FLOOR BOARDS FROM ME AND MY BROTHERS COMING IN TOO LATE. YOU HAD THE EYE OF AN EAGLE AND THE ROAR OF A LION, BUT YOU ALWAYS HAD A HEART AS BIG AS A HOUSE. I OWE YOU FOR SERVICES AS A SHORT ORDER COOK, A CHEF AND A BAKER FOR MAKING SIRLOIN OUT OF HAMBURGER, TURKEY OUT OF TUNA FISH, AND THREE BIG OLD STRAPPING BOYS OUT OF LEFTOVERS. I OWE YOU FOR CLEANING SERVICES, THE DAILY SCRUBBING OF FACE AND EARS, ALL WORK DONE BY HAND, AND FOR THE SMALL DUSTING OF A SMALL BOYS PANTS TO MAKE SURE HE LED A SPOTLESS LIFE. AND FOR WASHING AND IRONING NO LAUNDRY COULD EVER DO. FOR DRYING OUT THE PROBLEMS AND TEARS OF CHILDHOOD AND GROWING UP. I OWE YOU FOR SERVICES AS A BODY GUARD, FOR PROTECTING ME THROUGH THE TERROR OF THUNDER STORMS AND NIGHTMARES, AND OH YES, DON'T FORGET, TOO MANY GREEN APPLES. AND LORD KNOWS I OWE YOU FOR MEDICAL ATTENTION, FOR NURSING ME THROUGH THE MEASLES, THE MUMPS, BRUISES AND BUMPS, SPLINTORS, AND SPRING FEVER. AND LET'S NOT FORGET MEDICAL ADVICE EITHER, OH NO, IMPORTANT THINGS, LIKE DON'T SCRATCH IT OR IT WONT GET WELL, OR IF YOU CROSS YOUR EYES, THEIR GONNA STICK LIKE THAT, AND PROBABLY MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL WAS BE SURE YOU HAVE ON CLEAN UNDERWARE BOY IN CASE YOU'RE IN AN ACCIDENT. I OWE YOU FOR VETENARIAN SERVICES FOR FEEDING EVERY LOST DOG THAT I DRAGGED HOME AT THE END OF A ROPE, AND FOR HEALING THE PAINS OF PUPPY LOVE. I OWE YOU FOR ENTERTAINMENT, ENTERTAINMENT THAT KEPT A HOUSEHOLD GOING DURING SOME PRETTY TOUGH TIMES WHEN DAD WAS AWAY. FOR WONDERFUL PRODUCTIONS AT CHRISTMAS, 4TH OF JULY'S, AND BIRTHDAYS'S, AND FOR MAKING MAKE BELIEVE COME TRUE ON A VERY LIMITED BUDGET. I OWE YOU FOR CONSTRUCTION WORK, FOR BUILDING KITES, CONFIDENCE, HOPES AND DREAMS , AND HOW YOU MADE THEM ALL TOUCH THE SKY. AND FOR CEMENTING A FAMILY TOGETHER SO IT COULD STAND THE WORSE KIND OF SHOCKS AND BLOWS, AND FOR LAYING DOWN A GOOD STRONG FOUNDATION TO BUILD A LIFE ON. I OWE YOU FOR CARRYING CHARGES, FOR CARRYING ME ON YOUR BOOKS FOR ALL THE NECESSITIES A GROWING BOY HAS JUST GOT TO HAVE. THINGS LIKE A PAIR OF HIGH HEEL BOOTS WITH A LITTLE POCKET ON THE SIDE FOR A JACK KNIFE. AND ONE THING MOM, I'LL NEVER FORGET, WHEN THERE WAS ONLY THREE PIECES OF APPLE PIE LEFT, AND FOUR HUNGRY PEOPLE, I NOTICED YOU WERE ALWAYS THE ONE WHO SUDDENLY DECIDED YOU DIDN' LIKE APPLE PIE IN THE FIRST PLACE. THESE ARE JUST A FEW OF THE THINGS OF WHICH PAYMENT IS LONG OVERDUE. THE PERSON I OWE THEM TO WORKED VERY CHEAP. SHE MANAGED BY SIMPLY DOING WITHOUT A WHOLE LOT OF THINGS SHE NEEDED FOR HERSELF. MY I.O.U'S ADD UP TO MUCH MORE THAN I COULD EVER HOPE TO REPAY, BUT, YOU KNOW, THE NICEST THING ABOUT IT ALL IS, I KNOW SHE WOULD MARK THE ENTIRE BILL PAID IN FULL IF SHE COULD JUST HEAR ME SAY FOUR LITTLE WORDS. SO HERE IS HOPING THAT SOMEWHERE UP THERE, GOD WILL OPEN A SMALL WINDOW JUST LONG ENOUGH FOR HER TO HEAR ME SAY, MOM, I LOVE YOU.-----This is Two Texas PawPaw, signing off, and, the good Loed willing and the creeks don't rise, I'll be back tomorrow.