Diary of a Pregnant Girl: I Got it from My Momma

Entry Six

In the Spring of 2006, my Mom sent me a handwritten Easter card, a shirt and a canned ham all the way to desolate Williston, North Dakota. It was the funniest present she had ever sent me and I loved it so much. You have to understand; at that point in her life, my mother was about to undergo her 4th brain surgery. Her handwriting had deteriorated, her speech was slow and broken and her ability to walk had been taken away.

It was her spirit, her humor and her love that showed through those gifts, unscathed.

That was the last gift I was ever to receive from her as she passed in July of 2006 of brain cancer. I still have the shirt and card, but the canned ham had a different story.

Just last week, KP had a couple days off and his parents came into town to visit and ended up helping us around the house. I must be nesting because I just want all clutter and junk out the door. They helped clear out our Tupperware cabinet, our pantry, touched up painting in the kitchen, painted the nursery and basement, cleaned my steps and helped prepare items to be taken to the Goodwill. Bottom line: In two days, my house had a total make over.

When I walked in from work, they were eager to show me what they had done. When I stepped into the pantry, It was immaculate. But on the second shelf, in plain sight, was Mom's canned ham. We never ate it, we never had any intention on eating it because we knew it was a joke from her to us. But to see it there, 4.5 years later, brought tears to my eyes.

I picked it up and turned around to Kenny and his parents and said, I think I can throw this away. Kenny looked at me perplexed - we had moved 3 times prior and packed it every time, knowing it carried a certain sentimental element. He piped up, "But, you got that from your momma."

It was that split second that made me realize, that was not all I got from her - I still have her love, her spirit and her humor. I handed it to Kenny and he verified one last time, and ran to get the camera before throwing it into the garbage. (Did I mention he was the best?)

It was an emotional growing point for me. I am about to be a mom myself, and I could either pass along the expired canned ham to my kids or my mom's true values and this story. I choose the latter.