Tomorrow, i will take Maureen to Et Violà for a pre fixe Mother’s Day brunch. i will give her a small gift thanking her for what a wonderful mother she has been for our two daughters.

i am thinking of pinning one of her white roses on my jacket. It was a lovely tradition at the First Methodist Church in Lebanon, Tennessee when i was growing up, as well as elsewhere i’m sure. On Mother’s Day back then, everyone wore a rose to honor their mother, a red one for mothers who were still alive and a white one for mother’s who had crossed that rainbow bridge. It is a tradition i wish we still observed.

Thinking about it, in addition to my own Mother (capitalized because we always called her “Mother,” not “Mom”), i have had a number of mothers in my life. i wish to honor them by shutting up and posting some photos:

Mama Jewell: i was six years old when she passed away, but i can still remember her love. When in the first grade, i got in a fight with another first grader on my front lawn. Mama Jewell lived across the street and and saw the fight from her front window. She called my other grandmother who was keeping me while Mother was at work. She made sure Granny knew the other boy started the fight (i won).

Granny Prichard. She had five children, 13 grandchildren, and was the “house mother” for an untold number of boarding cadets at Castle Heights Junior School. She loved them all and cared for them all. She was the attending nurse that helped Dr. Charles Lowe deliver me. And there was a special bond between her and this great granddaughter.

My Aunt Bettye Kate Hall. She never had children but she was a second mother to every child in our family. She is with her nephews, Bill and Tim Prichard, in Florida.

Blythe Jewell Gander. My daughter who is the best possible mother in the world for my grandson Sam.

Kathie Lynch Jewell. The mother of Blythe whose love for Blythe, our grandson Sam, and son-in-law Jason was wonderful to see.

Maureen Boggs Jewell. She has been unbelievable in her unconditional love for Blythe, Sarah, Jason, and Sam. i take joy in watching her being a mother to all of them.

Estelle Jewell. She was an incredible woman even if it’s her eldest son describing her as such. i don’t think i’ve ever known a woman who worked as hard as she did. She was strict, demanding, and always loving. She was also one of my best friends. And there are not many people in this world who have a smile like that.

Happy Mother’s Day to all of you out there who deserve so much because you have given so much to us.