This is pretty much a repeat from Mother’s Day last year with a few additions and modifications, but no less heartfelt:

Maureen wanted a quiet Mother’s Day. We will likely go The Rose Wine Bar for an early dinner. It has been the site of many celebrations of ours.

Again, i am thinking of going outside to one of her rose bushes and getting two of her white roses, one for each of us to wear. 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. i think the thing that amazed me the most, among a thousand amazements she provided me, was in her mid-80’s at 4 foot-eight and 90 pounds shooting basketball with me at the goal daddy had added to the swing set he had built…i guess that is where my mother got her talent .

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. She and her husband Snooks were a constant throughout my growing up. She would undertake any adventure. She loved to frog hunting with her husband, but she kept in touch with me, sending tons of letters that helped on many deployments.

And she was that way with all of her nieces, nephews, and children of her friends.

Blythe Jewell Gander. My daughter who is the best possible mother in the world for my grandson Sam. She (and Jason) have been great at parenting this young man who will be attending the Savannah College for Art and Design this fall. We will be going back to Austin in a couple of weeks to attend his high school graduation. To watch her be a mother while carving out a successful career at Dell Computers continues to have be bursting with pride

Kathie Lynch Jewell. The mother of Blythe whose love for Blythe, our grandson Sam, and son-in-law Jason was wonderful to see. There has never been a mother and grandmother who loved her daughter and grandson as much as Kathie did. She was a force of motherhood while nobly suffering through many medical problems before succumbing way, way too soon at 65. i made many decisions based on the knowledge she loved her daughter. Those decisions were right because of her love for Blythe and Sam. We all miss her. She was the force of motherhood.

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. And as i grow older than dirt, she, in many ways has become a mother to me. She takes care of me and ensures all is right. When she talks to Sarah or Blythe, a light comes on that is unmistakably motherhood at its brightest. Same thing with Sam, Jason, and Aaron. And her love is unconditional.

Lord, i am a lucky man.

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. As with all of those mentioned before, her motherhood went far beyond her own children and grandchildren. i included her husband here as the she and Jimmy Jewell were inseparable.

You know those white and red roses mean a lot today. Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers out there. You out there deserve so much because you have given so much to us.