The Original Marie by the Sea

The last time I visited Mom before she passed away, I found her sitting in her chair in her room at the Cloisters. After greeting me, she pointed to the sliding glass door, and asked, "What are all those people doing there?" There was no one there, but Mom seemed a bit agitated; I tried my best to reassure her by answering: "It's okay Mom, they are just waiting for you, and are here to help you." The staff at the Cloisters were so kind, and recognized the signs of someone in transition. They came in, and assisted Mom, moving her safely from her chair into her bed. Later that evening, joined by a hospice nurse, Chris and I watched Mom point to the ceiling...sometimes laughing, sometimes frowning, (as if listening intently) and talking incoherently. Chris said: "She's talking to people!"  I felt we were truly witnessing a "holy moment"!  Mom was being met by the "Communion of Saints"... relatives and angels that were there to help her pass over into her new life! The TV was on low, and at one point a voice on the TV asked... "Are you ready to go?" Mom looked over and said "Sure!" The hospice nurse started to laugh, and asked us... "Did she just answer... Sure?"  Yep! Mom was ready!  

Throughout this quarantine time, Michelle sorted through all her photos. She uncovered so many personal and family memories, and wanted to share some pictures of Mom on her birthday!

Birthday Shout-Out: August 31: MOM💓

The men in her life

Mom met Dad during her high school years in Los Angeles. 

(Love this picture of Dad. Reenie: "He had an in-grown toenail so he's wearing a bedroom slipper in this picture.")

With Doc at Pier 39, 1974

(I edited myself out. Mom was lucky.)

As a young woman
Mom was born in Ferdinand Idaho on August 31, 1916. Mom went to beauty school (somewhere -- anyone know where? Please reply with answer), probably around this time:

(Jan: "The style of the day was to pluck off your own eyebrows then paint on new ones.")

Friends
The sisters-in-law: Melda, Joan, Mom and Dahl

(I edited Michelle out. Not having had sisters of her own, Mom adopted sisters from Dad. Jan's situation too.)

Mom's friend
 (Michelle: "Cheryl and I love the one that looks exactly like her having her little treat.")

Later in life

(That was the trip up north when Mom lit up one of Michelle's cigarettes in the kitchen. Mom: "I just wanted to taste it again.")

 (Mom grew old well.)

If you feel inclined, please share your thoughts by Replying below if you can. If you have images that make you think of Mom, please share those too so all can enjoy. We will post next with whatever we get. Here's mine -- do you see Mom in this image?

Here's mine... Reenie

LYM

Reenie and Dan