My mom's FB posts

I accomplished something last week - I finally deleted my Facebook account. Before I did, I meticulously went through all of my old photos (this was before someone pointed out that this can be done with the click of a button when removing yourself from the platform). I also went through the photos and posts of my best friend (desceased) and my mom (also deceased).

I was heartened to see so many sweet posts and comments about me. I wonder why I remember the negative stuff more than the positive? I carry around the general impression that she was disappointed in me and disapproved of me. Of course, she wouldn’t have posted anything negative about me public, she was too kind for that. But it was also nice to see that I had made nice comments on many of her posts. Maybe I wasn’t as bad a daughter as I usually consider myself.

Below are some of my favorite posts of hers. I lightly edited them - mostly for missing punctuation. She tended to not capitalize the first letter on most of her posts, which I thought was cute, so I left them like that. The notes that I added are in brackets. I have shortened the names of my sister (K), my husband (C), and my daughter (L) for their privacy. My name is shortened to S.

6/1/09: Someone needs to find a quicker way to get home (to Martinsburg) from BWI, Dulles or National airports. Really! [her first post]

9/13/09: I wonder where my wandering daughter is? [I was driving from Austin to Martinsburg, trying to make it to Nashville to stop for the night.]

1/24/10: while my keys were “lost” this is what I thought did happen and would happen. Someone saw that I forgot to remove my keys from the door after I closed it, they took the keys. Now he/she could come to [my] house when I was not here and steal and trash my house. Also since he/she had the car keys he/she would steal my car while I was asleep. Which explains why I slept so badly on Friday night. [Follow up comment: “yea I found my keys right where they were supposed to be and where I had looked at least 5 times”]

3/27/11: I’m going to Italy!!!!! Can you believe it?

3/27/10: [Mom’s name] says the best part of the Italy trip will be making it with her 2 favorite people in the world K and S

4/3/10: [mom’s name] just had her first nap on her deck in the year 2010…if only those lawnmowers would stop

7/4/10: as I was backing out of my driveway last week, I looked over to my left and saw a deer. What’s the big deal you might say. Well, the big deal is that I live in town. I think the deer followed a wooded area that goes down to Opequon Creek.

9/7/10: I know I am getting old because: 1-all I need my cell to do is send a receive phone calls 2-what exactly are “skinny jeans”? Stretch pants for the young?

9/23/10: I am off work this week, doing home chores, watching old tv shows and taking a stand and saying out loud I love “The West Wing”

12/16/10: and so it begins…the first snow…will my small car be able to make it out of my drive and up the oh so small hill in front of my house tomorrow morning so I won’t be late for work????? But my new attitude is…who cares if I am late????????? (follow up comment: update…I tried to go to work, I really did…it is about 13 degrees outside, there is still snow and ice on the road…I could not make it up the hill, my tires were spinning and I was going backwards when I should have been going forward, so I drifted into my driveway and here I am…oh and one more thing I have the most awesome supervisor when I called her and said I would try later, she said are you ready [crazy?] don’t worry about it, enjoy the long weekend!

3/16/11: 30 Day Song Challenge - songs that remind you of a time - This reminds me of when I was a teenager. I would go to my room and listen to the radio and get a cool station that could only be picked up at night. This song was different than any other music I had ever heard and I loved it. I also had this very album. [“Horse with No Name” by America]

3/16/11: 30 Day Song Challenge - songs that make me sad - I was never a Beach Boys fan but when I first met [my dad] he was. He really liked this song and it makes me sad because when I hear it I think about how things did not turn out for us and mainly for him. [“Wouldn’t It Be Nice” by The Beach Boys]

3/16/11: 30 Day Song Challenge - songs that remind you of a space in time - This really reminds me of when I was a teenager, trying so hard to be cool and a hippie. Ah…bellbottoms, long hair, JC sandals. Gotta love Neil [“Heart of Gold” - I also used to be obsessed with Neil Young]

4/11/11: 30 Day Song Challenge - There are so many country songs I would pick to remind me of my childhood, but I like how this song just goes on and on. It tells such a story. And I thought some of you youngsters might not have heard it. Enjoy. [“El Paso” by Marty Robbins]

4/12/11: My ears hurt. I was at an appointment where a radio was set to a country music station and it was very loud. Then I went to a lab to get blood drawn and there was a tv in the waiting room, again too loud. Then I went to get my hair cut, again radio and a VERY loud customer and hair dresser. One more place with loud (and especially bad) [music] was the grocery. I could not wait to get home and have quiet. Ahhhhhhhh

5/30/11: I don’t know if this posted or not so will try again. C is my hero today. It is currently 93 (and according to the Weather Channel feels like 97.) I would be roasted if not for the ac. Thanks C.

6/9/11: Ok, I will admit I played Janis to annoy my parents. Hey, I was a teenager too. EVERYBODY, Oh Lord… [“Mercedes Benz” by Janis Joplin]

8/19/11: Boy did I feel stupid today. I called 3 days ago to check on the time for my doctor appointment today. There was a message on my answering machine yesterday and what time did I show up? An hour late and at lunch time. I felt like an idiot. Did I go back to work? Are you kidding?

9/20/11: My house feels so clean. I threw out 8 pens that did not write.

11/11/11: It seems patience pays. After at least 2 years, and hearing daughters say “when are you getting your dishwasher fixed Mom?” my dishwasher is ready to work and not leak. I did a test run and no water on the floor. Cross your fingers.

11/15/11: I have moved into the 21st century! I have a new flat screen tv, with hd and a dvr. Oh boy, will I ever leave home?

12/11/11: Ok so yesterday I was either too focused or too flighty you decide. I was on a mission to get lots of things done before I went home to get ready for a book club Christmas party. I came out of Michaels and could not find my keys, back to the store. A nice man tapped me on the shoulder and said “do you think you lost your keys?” “Why yes,” say I. Guess what? He knew where my keys were. Are ya ready? In my car which was still running! Thank goodness S and C were home and I have an extra set of keys and they have a key to my house.

4/23/12: It is rainy almost snow but it is a good morning LED ZEPPELIN on radio this morning

6/9/12: OK, I just want to put this out there. I have the most amazing daughters. K planned the most wonderful vacation for the two of us [to England]. She made a teenage dream come true. Meanwhile at home after giving me the most precious gift, L, was S. She looked after my home. She also hung pictures, cleaned and organized my craft room. Now I can actually use it. I love both of you very, very much.

8/11/12: I guess it would be rude to correct the grammar of the young woman at the grocery store who asked me about the doughnuts I was buying. “How many is there?” :)

10/11/12: I’m an adult so why do I get scared watching scary movies? (And like it so much)

10/14/12: I hate monkeys. I think they are creepy looking.

2/19/13: L spent the night with me last night. I think that being a grandmother is the BEST thing in the world. L is so sweet, so cute, so smart, and just so much fun. I find that, at times, I have to restrain myself from talking about her. BTW, I had the same problem when my daughters were little too.

4/9/13: so today could be my lucky day…I left the house a little late for work, noticed my gas light flashing, got gas, ignored the voice that said take [Route] 11 this morning, stopped in traffic…completely stopped, oh well, call work…since I am “old school”, no plan, only minutes, on a flip phone…got minutes, called work, traffic moving…lucky, yes I did get gas. Oh, and the first song on the radio, because again old school, Black Sabbath “Crazy Train”...I turned the volume up and put the windows down!!! Heaven!

5/31/13: When I was young I don’t think we ever had a new sofa. Especially in the summer I remember my mother covering the sofa (or couch as we called it) with a sheet. It was easy to wash and always felt cool. I just put a sheet on my sofa.

[date unknown, 2013 - comment on my post showing that I had just pulled out a large root ball from a bush that was in the garden of my new house]: I always did say that you were stubborn, I mean determined

12/11/13: Why do I love Fred Astaire movies so much?

1/23/14: this is my opinion, it is winter people! It is supposed to be cold! These are the winters I remember. The winters that we have where I can get away with wearing a sweater and a light jacket are not the winters of my youth. I remember heavy coats, gloves, scarves, hats. There was not always blizzards with 3 feet of snow, but there were snows with several inches at a time, several times a month. WINTER!

2/2/14: I am so sick of those Ralph Lauren commercials. First of all, what do they mean? Does he suppose women dream of being some sort of Russian princesses?

2/13/14 [with a picture of her car covered in about two feet of snow]: Should I drive. Just kidding I am not crazy.

4/22/14: I know this is a little strange but here goes. Of course, as parents, grandparents we remember things about “special” holidays like Christmas, Thanksgiving, birthdays and even vacations. But today, Earth Day, takes me back with my daughters. They were such conservationists even when they were little. I remember being at an outdoor music festival and I would walk around with them picking up trash, gathering bottles. They read Ranger Rick and took it all to heart. It is all just so clear in my mind, S with her very blond pig-tails, K with that mass of curls. Big blue eyes on both of them. Memories like this are what makes us smile as adults. Happy Earth Day K and S!

5/22/14: I had the best birthday party. Theme “When I’m 64.” It was so thought out. And an English Tea. Thanks to all who came. Thanks for the presents. A special thanks to S who came up with the idea. [Follow up comment: “It was a total surprise and I am still amazed. I have never had a surprise party or a birthday party as an adult. Sorry to keep going on but it really was amazing.”]

7/23/14: I had L at my house last evening. She likes to strip naked and play with the garden hose. Last evening I watched her as she put bird seed in the bird bath and walked around the yard “in the all together” and thought how nice it would be if I could do the same. (I would not be as cute as Lucy with no clothes on of course. The closest I get is to go without my bra.)

9/11/14: I just worked outside for 1 ½ hours and man is it hot out. Had to take second shower of the day. Relaxing on the couch now, hope no one rings the doorbell, in my current state, it would take me a while to answer.

11/27/14: Happy Thanksgiving everyone! This has always been a favorite holiday of mine. No presents, just food! Today I have so much to be thankful for. As always I am thankful for my wonderful family. My daughters have shown me how they have grown into the women I always hoped they would become. This year I have also discovered how many friends I have and how supportive they are. I am thankful for knowledge and people who know how to use it.