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1StrongBlackMan

(31,849 posts)
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 12:44 PM Jun 2014

Last week, I went "home" ...

for my Mom's 90th Birthday Celebration!

My sister put together quite the party ... there were over 150 people in attendance, ranging from members of the church (that she and my Dad (R.I.P. had a hand in building ... I mean literally, laying bricks and hammering nails), her former co-workers when she was in Nursing, her former co-workers from when she was on faculty of the local community college, and some her former students.

Everyone was asked to bring a single flower, in order that she might "Get her flowers, while she could smell them." (It took two of us to carry the resulting creation.)

It's amazing how one person could so quietly, positively affect some many lives.

13 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Last week, I went "home" ... (Original Post) 1StrongBlackMan Jun 2014 OP
Wonderful... whathehell Jun 2014 #1
Beautiful way to celebrate sheshe2 Jun 2014 #2
Oh ... 1StrongBlackMan Jun 2014 #3
Make that a truly amazing woman. sheshe2 Jun 2014 #7
What a wonderful Worried senior Jun 2014 #4
What a great thing to do! KT2000 Jun 2014 #5
Roses at the end of time DreamGypsy Jun 2014 #6
1 Strong Well Loved Mom Piedras Jun 2014 #8
many more heaven05 Jun 2014 #9
What a woman she is and what a great family you have, 1SBM. freshwest Jun 2014 #10
Thanks for sharing your story... randys1 Jun 2014 #11
How very very Wonderful for you, your Mom and your Cha Jun 2014 #12
Happy Birthday gwheezie Jun 2014 #13

whathehell

(28,938 posts)
1. Wonderful...
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 12:54 PM
Jun 2014

Congratulations to your mom and your entire family for turning out to create

such a lovely and memorable celebration for her.

 

1StrongBlackMan

(31,849 posts)
3. Oh ...
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 01:15 PM
Jun 2014

She is.

Graduated in 1942 and headed to NYC, with enough money for, what she thought was, one months expenses and without a plan ... New York is different from my home town (way, way more expansive) ... But she just wanted to be in NY. Penniless after a couple weeks, she gained admission into Nursing School (that paid room, board and tuition). While in Nursing School, she hung out with Black "Tin-pan Alley" luminaries like Baldwin, Hughes, and Basie (She met them through one of her class-mates ... Ruby Dee).

She returned to her home town in 1948, and married her High School Sweet-heart, my father (though, they never dated in High School). She worked as a Nurse until 1967, when she quit to raise my sister and me, but I can't think of a day that she wasn't at our school ... she was the PTA President.

When I got to middle-school, she took a job teaching at the local Community Class, got a Masters Degree and wrote a book on Medical terminology, that is still used today.

She was way ahead of her time, in terms of gender roles and systemic limitations ... and taught her kids to think likewise.

sheshe2

(83,128 posts)
7. Make that a truly amazing woman.
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 01:35 PM
Jun 2014

She was ahead of her time and a book too! I can see that she taught her children well.

Oh and I just love the fact that her classmate was Ruby Dee~

My mom was a nurse too (88 in a couple of weeks), my grandparents a nurse and doctor and my sister and niece followed along too.

Happy Birthday mom of 1SBM~

KT2000

(20,534 posts)
5. What a great thing to do!
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 01:31 PM
Jun 2014

Kudos to your sister on a job well done. I bet your Mom was pretty blown away.
I hope she has told you lots of stories about the Tin Pan Alley - and you pass them along!

DreamGypsy

(2,252 posts)
6. Roses at the end of time
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 01:32 PM
Jun 2014

This wonderful story of your Mother and the thoughtful gift of flowers recalled my favorite love song. It's not exactly directed at a parent, but the sentiments are still valid.


...
I will give you roses fair
For every secret you did share
For all your words that flowed like wine
Roses at the end of time
...
One rose for every vow you kept
One for every tear you wept
For all the moments you were kind
Roses at the end of time
...
One rose for every dream you dared
One for every wrong repaired
For all that bound your heart to mine
Roses at the end of time
Roses.




Thanks for sharing this, 1StrongBlackMan.

Piedras

(247 posts)
8. 1 Strong Well Loved Mom
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 02:35 PM
Jun 2014

Your Mom sounds like she accomplished great life goals her whole life in the face of hardship and adversity. The turn out for her birthday party was a great testament to her. I really don't know what more to say other than love her and care for her as best you can.

Cha

(295,517 posts)
12. How very very Wonderful for you, your Mom and your
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 11:25 PM
Jun 2014

whole Family and Friends, 1StrongBlackMan. :loveya;

gwheezie

(3,580 posts)
13. Happy Birthday
Wed Jun 25, 2014, 01:16 AM
Jun 2014

Your mom is one of the women who led the way that we don't hear enough about. What a blessing to have her and thank you for sharing her story.

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