Fond of Snape: Thursday Thirteen

<< Cleaning & thinking | Main | Friday Questions >>

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen Things about Betty (my mother)

1. Mom got to celebrate her 83rd birthday on December 9th; she got lots of gifts that day, lots of cards and had quite a few visitors...I know that made her happy!
2. She always sang in the church choir, even as a little one, and wanted to go to music school.. She met my Dad, who also sang in the church choir since he was little, and wanted to to go to music school, too, but they got married instead ;-)
3. She loved gin & tonics when she was younger, changed that to Chardonnay in her late 60s
4. Ultimately, it was cigarettes that killed her; it was very hard for her to give them up, even after her Mom died of lung cancer.
5. When I was younger, dinners were similar week to week: pot roast on Sunday, hash on Monday, chinese chop suey (hamburger & noodles & celery & sauce), beans & franks w/black bread on Saturday night, she liked cooking, but worked full time.
6. Every Christmas, up until just a few years ago, my parents made Sand Tart cookies. The dough was made the night before and chilled, then it was rolled out and cookie cutters were used: Christmas trees, bells, stars, scottie dogs, Santas, a horse and a fish. They were brushed with egg, sprinkled with colored sugars (except for the fish, that was always cinnamon & crushed walnuts), nicely browned and everyone got some, the post person, the hair dresser, my friends, these cookies were GREAT! I made them for my Mom last Christmas and she was thrilled.
7. Mom was a very stubborn lady, which was great in some ways, but made for lots of head butting with the two of us.
8. Her favorite button to wear on her coat was "Screw the Golden Years".
9. Her second favorite was Bitch, Bitch, Bitch.
10. The refrigerator was COVERED in magnets from her travels here and there, she'd get mad if I rearranged them :-)
11. She was from Lancaster, PA; I loved going down there to visit my grandfather & other relatives when I was little.
12. Most of our vacations that didn't include going to Cape Cod and staying with our relatives involved camping; she didn't much like it, but we kids & Dad did, so she agreed to it.
13. Mom always said her Christmas didn't start until she gave money to The Salvation Army; I gave them a pocketful of change for her and that made her happy. I also gave her clothes, coats, shoes, etc., to the Salvation Army...she'd've liked that, too.

Links to other Thursday Thirteens!
1. Running2Ks
2. Megan
3. Lauren
4. Heather
5. Lillyput
6. Charity
7. Ocean Lady
8. Kat
9. Tickled~Pink

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

08:23 AM

Comments

I love your mom--what a character with the buttons. What a sweet woman. I'm sorry she passed.

HUGS!

Posted by running2ks at December 22, 2005 12:01 PM

stubborn: like mother like daughter ;) you're such a wonderful daughter to write all this about your mom. hugs!

Posted by megan at December 22, 2005 12:02 PM

She sounds like a lady in every sense of the word.

What a nice group of things to remember her for...

Posted by Denice at December 22, 2005 12:21 PM

That's great Janet, it really is. Made me feel all warm and Christmasy inside and has got me thinking about my own mother and all the wonderful things she has done to make my life special. So glad you have so many fond memories.

Posted by Carl V. at December 22, 2005 1:10 PM

What a great dedication to your mom. She sounded like a wonderful Woman.

This inspired me to the Thursday Thirteen...so I guess link me?

Posted by Lauren at December 22, 2005 1:30 PM

What a neat Thursday Thirteen.

Where my parents live in PA is like 45 min from Lancaster.

Posted by heather at December 22, 2005 1:37 PM

Ha! This is great. I would like to say that besides sharing a birthday, your mother and I are alike on #10. Woe unto those who rearrange my place magnets!

Posted by Michele at December 22, 2005 1:42 PM

My mom won't give up the cigarettes either and she thinks because she doesn't smoke much that she's safer... you don't just get "a little bit of cancer."
I'm so sorry for your loss. Thanks for posting your memories of your mom, she'll be with you forever and be very happy that you gave her things to her favorite charity.

Here's my 13
http://lillyput.blogspot.com

Posted by Renee at December 22, 2005 1:58 PM

Very beautiful list! Makes me think of all the things I admire and am thankful for in my mom!

my 13
http://charityates.blogspot.com

Posted by Charity at December 22, 2005 2:00 PM

It was so amazing the day I met her and your Dad in Lancaster! I nearly wet myself when I looked over and saw them sitting there. We didn't know they were visiting there and we happened to go with some of the family. We had a great lunch together and I was SO happy!

Posted by Mel at December 22, 2005 2:19 PM

I put my Thirteen up:

http://foryourpawzonly.com

Posted by Lauren at December 22, 2005 3:33 PM

That was super sweet! (((((Janet)))))

Posted by Krista at December 22, 2005 3:46 PM

What a great list about your Mom.....truly memories to cherish.....

Posted by Laura at December 22, 2005 4:23 PM

Hello, Michele sent me. I've seen other bloggers who do the Thursday 13, but this is the first time I've seen somebody do one for a different person. I think it's a wonderful thing to do for your mom, and obviously brings up many enjoyable memories. I'm sorry for your loss, but I think this was a nice way to pay her tribute. I hope you can enjoy your holidays!

Posted by Joan at December 22, 2005 4:48 PM

I changed thirteen diapers today. Kid's sick.

Nice tribute to your mom. Mine passed 5 years ago. (sniff)

here via michele today.
p

ps - hope you found some humor in my Christmas post.

Posted by prego at December 22, 2005 4:54 PM

Sending some cyber hugs ((()))

Posted by Ocean at December 22, 2005 5:42 PM

You know what? I'm sitting here crying. I knew all of that about Uncle Betty, and I'm missing her. She was one of a kind!

Posted by Maribeth at December 22, 2005 8:42 PM

What a great tribute to your mom!

Merry Christmas!

Posted by kat at December 22, 2005 9:20 PM

This was a very sweet TT

Posted by Tickled~Pink at December 23, 2005 10:53 AM

She would have loved your list, too. What a wonderful daughter, I bet she beamed with pride when she talked about you with her friends. {{{hugs}}}

Merry Christmas to you!

Posted by Leanne at December 23, 2005 5:12 PM