My Mom’s “Precious”

 

Today would  have been my late mother’s 90th birthday, so she is very much on my mind.

I just love this photo of yours truly with my older brother, the eldest of Mom’s five children, and my younger sister, who is the “baby” of our family.  (I am the second-oldest; missing from this shot are a brother, the #3 middle child, and a sister, #4).  It was taken at the celebration of life we had for our mother after her funeral Mass in March.

Here we are, apparently sharing some private joke, per usual—most likely some ridiculous comment delivered by my older brother, who is hilarious.  He and I are only sixteen months apart in age, and we've been good buddies all our lives.  He always, always makes me laugh.  He is a hard-working, deep-feeling guy who has zealously embraced the vocational roles of husband, father, and grandfather; he is deeply devoted to his Catholic Faith and his beloved family; but he is also just plain silly, in the best possible way.  Just so, so funny. And we all jokingly call him “Precious,” because of course he absolutely was that to our mother.  Her firstborn baby, the one who made her a mother.

This photo was taken on one of our worst days, when we were mourning our recent devastating loss.  But what a testament to the job she and our dad did, raising us to rally together and lean on each other in our suffering—and to find joy in each others’ presence even during the saddest of times.  I think my mother would be overjoyed to see us looking so happy together like this on the day of her funeral. 

Thanks, Mom and Dad, for the greatest gift you ever gave us: siblings!   And also, thanks for always having a sense of humor about life.  You sure passed that trait on to your firstborn, your Precious, and he keeps us laughing.