In honor of Veterans Day coming up this weekend, I felt that
it would be appropriate for me to talk about the most impactful Veteran in my
own life.
My mom joined the Air Force right out of college. She did ROTC at La Tech while she was also in
a sorority, in the marching band, and winning intramural badminton
championships. Not to mention she studied both art and geography (she also later got her Masters in Education).
That’s a Rhode’s Scholar type resume` (I know this because I
once aspired to be a Rhode’s Scholar, but after I looked up the qualifications I
decided it was too hard). Men who’ve
gone on to be Presidents of our country have had less on their resume`s coming
out of college. I bet Barack’s name is not on any badminton championship
trophies. Furthermore, it is an absolute
fact that my mom would wipe out the nations deficit if she had just 1 year in
the White House.
If I had to use one word to describe Mom it would be, “strong.”
Those of you who know her can attest to her strong
will. She doesn’t quit when her mind is
made up about something.
She is strong physically.
I have mentioned in a previous blog post that she has battled Rheumatoid
Arthritis since she was 23 years old. I
hear stories about her playing her guitar Brazilian style when she was in
college. She played and sang in several
weddings of her friends. I remember her
playing the guitar when I was young, but as time went on it was too hard on her
hands. Even though she doesn’t play the
guitar anymore or play tennis or badminton anymore, she has never once been
physically unable to do anything she wanted to do as a mother, school teacher,
or homemaker.
My mom doesn’t make excuses.
She follows rules to the T. She
has always had our home in order. She
has always been there for me or my two brothers when we’ve needed her. She is a rock.
She is unwaveringly true to her values and her love for our family.
She is emotionally strong.
Mom has dealt with tragedies in her life since she was young. Her father died when she was young. As the oldest of three daughters, she took
some of the responsibility of the family on herself. I’m sure that in a home of 4 females, there
were some intensely emotional times.
Maybe that’s why God gave her a home of 4 mostly drama free males to
live with as an adult.
Finally, my mom’s love is strong. I watched the movie “Act of Valor” the other
day, and there is a part where a soldier jumps on a grenade to shield the rest
of his squadron from the blast. He sacrificed
his own life in order to save 4 or 5 others.
His act of unselfishness reminded me of my mom’s love for our family. My
dad sometimes says that he would think about it before he took a bullet for me,
but my mom would never hesitate. I know
he is joking, but he is pointing out my mom’s uncompromised love for her sons.
As her child, I feel a little bit guilty for having her as a
mother because I know she could’ve helped a lot more people if she would have
instead chose to run for President or something.
I would not be the man I am today if it had not been for my
mom. I will forever thank God for the
strong woman who raised me.
I know that this blog post could not even come close to
honoring her the way she deserves (I just don’t have the resources to have a
statue built yet), but it will have to do for now.
Mom, if you ever end up reading this (and I assume you
probably will), I want you to know that you are an amazing woman. You have overcome so much in your life. You have and will continue to leave a legacy
of strength and unconditional love in our family.
I love you Mom.
Happy Veterans Day.
This is how you know you are a real man. ^
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