What's on my mind

The Lilac Festival is a time of year I remember my Mom. I don't go to her grave much, because honestly...she is not there and that is not where I remember her. It is in Highland Park I remember her most. Just like when I want to think of Scott's Mom, memories flood in at the Hill.
My Mom and I were best friends for a long time. One year at the Lilac festival, we were watching the parade ad she got a funny sun burn. She wore sunglasses that clipped over her glasses.

My Mom LOVED lilacs. At the festival, we would go over to the Highland Bowl and listen to the free music under the Fredrick Douglas statue. She would get her waffle treat.
We would walk by the church and she would tell me of how it was to be a member in this area before we had even a chapel. She was baptized in the YMCA pool by Henry Call- the missionary who taught her.

Henry Call's family grew up in the same Mexican Colonies as Scott's family. That seems wild to me. He went all the way to NY to baptize the mother -who's daughter would marry his neighbor. I still have the Book of Mormon with his testimony and his missionary Article of Faith card.
My Mom would always tell me of how the members built the building. I thought is was annoying back then...the same old story. Now I wish I could hear it one more time. I have a picture some where of her and my brothers and sister with the Siebach's working on it.
I remember as a child playing in the park with the lilacs and climbing the cannon (a civil war trophy). One time Kristen ( my now sister-in- law) and I went over to the conservatory with Lisa Moon and Edie Jacobson. We threw pennies in the gold fish pond while we were suppose to be in YW. One of our pennies hit a fish and it started floating belly up..... ( Record has it was Edie's fault)


My Mom and I would walk around the Divinity School and she showed me one of their first apartments.


I miss my Mom. The night she died- I was just over 8 months pregnant with Alex. My Mother in law, Barbara, heard me get the call. She climbed in bed with me and stroked my hair as I cried. She told me of their friendship. Barbara was her VTer through the years. The earliest year she could remember was when I was three.

Barbara was my good friend too. I was awkward around her in the beginning, but she was tender to that. To her, I was the little girl standing on the coffee table ordering my big siblings around or the obnoxious girl she was silly enough to chaperone on the youth Temple trips to DC.

For the record it was all Kristen. She is the one who taught me everything, including the kool-aid in the shower heads. ;) JKing Kristen!!!!

Barbara and I became good friends.

We would go shopping together to antique shops. Once her and I took a trip to Ohio..... just her and I. We took the long way to stop at all the little towns to learn of their history and look for treasures. She always asked me to look for early edition Book of Mormon's. I was on the hunt for a candle mold. When we finally found a mold, it was too worn for the money they wanted. I remember her glee at the find. She had an energetic laugh. I did find one affordable one a few years later and bought it. I hope she knows...it wasn't as fun with out her.

I remember one time interpreting at the Hill for a Pageant devotional and she and I talked for along time afterwards about what the GA said. At the time I had no idea why she focused on one aspect and worried about it so.... Now I understand.
When I interpreted Pageant, she would stand by the tree and watch until she had to go help again with costumes and wigs...sometimes while I interpret- I still glance over out of habit...and wish for one more glance.

We were a good team.
She would work on shows and since I can not thread a needle, I would take over the house hold stuff.
When she got sick, she would allow me to serve her by giving me a list of things to get done. She needed hot chocolate to help with the nausea and she was always cold.
It still haunts me the day she said for me to go buy her and Joe a grave site.
At Gramma's house the kids were allowed to have as much ice cream as they wanted....with a golden spoon. She helped me to relax.

Moms