Reflections

On a life well lived

Tuesday was a tough day-in some respects. In other respects- it was a joyful day. Today was the day that my sister, dad and I celebrated my mother’s passing. We choose to honor her today in everything we did. Including getting dressed up. Putting on make-up (for my sister and I of course). Getting fresh flowers for her gravesite. Going out for a fancy lunch. Then I paid for all of it with some money that I had inherited from her. It was a tough 1st anniversary, but it felt good honoring her in this way. She would have wanted us to laugh, smile, enjoy good food, remember past days without too much sadness.

My mom was a very special person. She was loved by so many. She lived her life - one day at a time - one person at a time - one adventure at a time. When I was around her, as an adult, I noticed so much more about who my mom was. She recognized cashiers in the checkout line. She smiled at them asked them how their day was going, if there was something that she could pray for them and she called them by their name. She did that everywhere we went. I used to be annoyed. Guess I picked that up from her because now I try to make at least one conversation in my day reflect her spirit of kindness.

When I was little, and we would be traveling as a family in the car on vacation she would see a brown sign on the side of the road and ask my dad to pull over. These signs are generally historical markers. I Hated it. Why do we need to read every brown sign? Sometimes I wouldn’t even get out of the car. If you have been on a road trip with me lately - I now pull over to read brown signs. Guess I picked that up from her.

She also loved to cook and entertain. She would invite all the neighbors over for any holiday meal if they didn’t already have plans. It got so that most people stopped making other plans and only came to my mom’s invitation - she was a great host! Guess I picked that up from her.

She had fears, like most people do. But she didn’t let it stop her from living life to the fullest. She once rode on a top wing of a biplane, far as I know, not many people have done that. Not me for sure.

She was always sending cards to everyone who had a birthday. She would remember to send cards to everyone who had an anniversary. She would always send a thank you note if you gave her a gift or showed her kindness. Guess I picked that up from her.

She was a student, teacher, sister, mother, grandmother, good friend. She studied the Bible everyday and boy did she pray for us all. Wish I could say I was as diligent as her.

As I think about our day and I reflect upon her life an how her legacy lives on. Today if she was here she would have kept up step by step. Smelling the fresh flowers and smiling. Going to lunch with us all dressed up. Asking the waiter his name as he took our order. Who knows maybe we would have seen a brown sign on the way back to the house that we needed to pull over and read. I know I would have gotten out of the car this time! Sure miss her.

In Loving Memory - Gail Marie Brandt - 1940-2022