I remember Lillian Hartsfield Lee. She was my mother, and a kinder, more intelligent, sensitive human being, was never put on this earth.

In my childhood and youth, our teachers were terrified of her. She taught us things they were afraid of. She taught use the stories of my ancestors clear back to England on my Father's side and to Ireland on her side. She made us feel not-guilty with the facts that on her great-grandfather's side, I was descended from both Native Americans and slaveholders, and how her great-grandfather had left the plantation, now town, in Georgia that bore her Maiden name to the people who had worked it. He then walked from Georgia to Florida to begin a new life, penniless.

She taught us from childhood that all people being equal meant Every Color and Race and Creed and Lifestyle, regardless of what stupid people might say, and that life was to help others. She taught us about herbs that helped heal and oils that could reduce pain. We still use them.

We still miss her, but there is so much of her in us, she is never far away. She taught us to love trees and bushes and shrubs and flowers and the ocean and Lake Michigan. She taught us to see beauty in the world, because there is so Much beauty, if only we look. She taught us to read & love books, and to watch for & see birds, and recognize their calls.

She took us to museums, libraries, Monasteries and all manner of Churches, including The Baha'i Temple. She taught us to go to some church every Sunday. Religion was private, within a family, and all religions had some value, but that those who proselytized were a bit dim-witted.

In time, her disability ate at her soul, Pain made her cranky. My friends, who loved her, came to call her "The Old Dragon" as a term of affection.

In the six years of Mother's final illness, we bonded more deeply than ever before. It was simply amazing. When she died, I knew I had gotten it right . All the old history was laid to rest, and we were closely bonded again. I had no idea at the time that the end result would be relief that she was out of pain. she has been dead lo these twelve years now, and it's still all in there.

She taught us, by example, to face being disabled without giving up hope for life. To carry on with good humor and great attitude. She taught us that if we felt something was wrong, and all the world disagreed, to trust that we were probably right. She took in foster kids who had little chance of making it in the world otherwise. Everyone was family to her. She touched and changed a lot of lives. I hope I learned well. I know my older sister, Irene, did.

Comments:

comment by ducky on July 6, 2008 4:54 PM ()

Looking back, no wonder I learned to share and be content with enough. My parents were each weird in their own way, but they rocked!

reply by thestephymore on July 11, 2008 8:33 PM ()