My Mom

My mother died today. The woman who literally gave me life and has stood beside me every day since then died today. I wanted you to know. Her name was Margaret Joan Kinsler Grimone. And she was my mom.

My mother was born on a late January day in 1937. She had an older sister and two younger brothers who she loved very much. She loved her parents and grandparents, too. She told us stories about their trips to the lake, walks down the street to Grandma Grace's house, and how Pals taught her to tie her shoes.

In high school, she played the bells in the band while her brother Tim marched with the drums. She was also a majorette and loved to show us how she could still twirl her baton. She went to dances in beautiful dresses and cheered for her younger brother Jim at his basketball games. She also kept her eye on a classmate with jet-black hair and a handsome grin.

She married that classmate, my father Bill, and together, they created a wonderful life with their five daughters in the white house on the corner that Mom absolutely loved. She put a beautiful tree in the front window and tall, sparkly candles on the radiator boards every Christmas. She drank coffee with Dad in the morning and drove us to school in her pajamas. She drove us in her red jeep to the lake with an eight-track tape called High Energy playing while she sang along. She said raising her girls was the most wonderful time of her life.

My mom had the most beautiful red hair and the most perfect smile. She loved the color green and hot fudge sundaes after dinner. Mom could turn a frozen turkey into Thanksgiving Dinner faster than anyone I know. When I was in college, my mom sent a homemade apple pie back to school with me on Sundays. Mom loved to sing and make people happy. She was a selfless caregiver to us all and was the best grandma ever. She told countless stories about her friend the bear and made the best bubble baths ever. When I tried, my kids were sure to tell me that Grandma's bubbles were way higher.

My mom was the best person I will ever know. I cannot imagine my life without her. As much as I want to keep her here forever, I love her too much for that. She has so many people waiting to welcome her home. Mom always told us that when you do something good for someone, you get another star for your heavenly crown. I can only imagine how brilliantly my mother's crown is shining now.

After today, the world will continue as usual. People will go to work and school, go shopping, cook dinner, and do laundry, unaware that my beautiful, amazing mother died today. But I wanted you to know. I wanted you to know that my mom is in heaven now. And I bet she sang the whole way there. Right now, I can hear her singing one of her favorites, reminding us that Life is but a dream.

They are together again.

Billie Jo