Last week marked the 19th anniversary of my mother’s passing. The date doesn’t bring the heavy grief it used to 10 or 15 years ago. But I was still left feeling a little melancholy and out of sorts. Which is part of the reason there was no post last week.

God bless the characters we’ve loved.

I’m kind of at a lost about this week’s post too. My mother was very shy, and some how a post about her doesn’t seem right somehow. But I thought I would share a few words about the kind of character she was.

Joyce, was short with big eyes and a soft smile. She was everyone’s mom. All of my friends and classmates from grade school to college called her Mom when they saw her. She was always ready to give whatever they needed – a hug, a pep talk or a snack, many times it was all three. She was strict. She was cautious. She had high standards. She was quiet until there was a need to fight for a child, any child, and then she was fierce. Most of all she believed in all of her kids (hers by birth, babysitting or happenstance) more than any of us believed in ourselves.

I would like to invite you to take a moment and share a few words or a story about someone in your life that is gone but not forgotten. Sharing the memories keep them, and us, alive.