today started out so well. it's my mom's bday.

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tho she was an irish citizen born here, she was so proud to be an american. to have her children be american.
she had a life she never could have had back in ireland.
i've been thinking about her all day, and been so grateful she never had to live through such a day.

this is what i posted on fb this morning before all hell broke lose-

happy bday mom.
she would have been 102 today, but she only made it to 89.

i'm so sorry for how i underestimated you all my life.
i didnt see how smart you were until i found out that the reason you were a secretary is because you graduated 1st in your hs class, and won a scholarship to business school.
and i didnt see that your mad bridge skills were because of how smart you were. crossword puzzles, same. i thought those things were just isolated bits for which you had 'a knack'.

and i thought you stuck w dad because of the church, and you were just weak. now i know you were made of steel, and couldnt go back on the promises YOU made.
i am grateful for that steel, because it meant that you never rejected any of us kids, even when we rly disappointed you.
which i did. repeatedly.

wherever you are now, i hope you got the rewards you so richly deserved for all you did on earth that no one, even your bosses who loved you, gave you.

[Karadeniz]

1. Lovely... and lovingly expressed!

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2. she deserved so much more but

ya know, she didnt have a bitter bone in her body.
if i live to be 100, i'll never know how she managed that.

[Karadeniz]

3. I know someone like that... she's amazing. Must have huge souls!

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4. she sure did.

i hope it is where she wanted to be.
she took such joy in what she did have, i think that's the ticket.

[UTUSN]

5. Beautiful tribute. Thanks for that.

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6. ty.