Mother

Dear Mother,

First of all I want to say, I love you. I will always love you. I have great memories of you. Even though you gave birth to and raised 12 children, you had a life outside of raising us. You had the greatest voice. Every time we visited someone’s church; you were requested to sing. You would sing with such sincerity and meaning, that as you sung, I would feel a cool chill run down my back. I remember when you directed the Santa Rosa community choir that consisted of choirs from 3 different churches joined together as one. After the community choir performed at the Sonoma County Fair, we were asked to come to KDIA radio station to sing. That was an honor. I also think of us moving back to the San Francisco Bay Area and you pulling together the choirs of two different churches to put on Christmas Concerts at the San Francisco War Memorial building. Growing up I remember you performing as a part of a singing group consisting of about 4 or 5 women. You ladies really put on a show. After I became a young adult, you were still organizing, teaching and conducting choirs. You helped put together the West Coast Zion Singers. We were the first group that performed at a graduation ceremony for John Addams Community College. It was recorded on a reel-to-reel tape. I wish we could have got a copy of that recording from the school. That was one of our greatest performances, a 16-piece band ensemble accompanying us. Everyone really enjoyed you leading songs and the solos you sung. Too bad no one thought about pursuing a recording contract for you. You were one of the greatest singers that ever graced this earth, and I’m not just saying this because you were my mom.

I remember when we moved from San Francisco to Petaluma when I was still a young child, how you taught us how to milk a cow. I even remember when you were milking Goldie, she stepped on your foot, and Daddy picked you up and carried you back in the house.

I also remember when the holidays rolled around, how you used to drop a curtain between the dining room and kitchen. We wouldn’t know what you were cooking until you finished. That good eating was my favorite part of the holidays.

Even though I had so many siblings, you were always aware if something wasn’t right with me. I remember you taking me aside to have talks with me. I wouldn’t necessarily tell you what I was planning to do, but after those talks, my mind would change, and I would do the right thing.

I also remember you not being too busy to take a phone call from someone that needed to have someone to talk to. I’m quite sure that compassion you showed rubbed off on me. Now I find myself showing the same kind of compassion to others.

After giving birth to your 11th child, you decided not to let Daddy handled all the financial responsibilities alone. We moved back to San Francisco where it was easier to start a Residential Care Home Business. You went to school, obtained your license and started your business which became very successful. Not only were you and Daddy able to purchase a six-bedroom home in Silicon Valley, you and Dad gave me $1200 to put a down payment on my first new car. For a family of fourteen, this was quite an accomplishment.

You and Daddy stayed together without one separation, all 31 years of your marriage. Then your work on this earth was finished and you rested.

You and Dad did a great job raising us. All twelve of us are still here. We are all close and stay in contact with each other. Not one of us has ever been in prison. We all have had successful careers. We haven’t forgotten what you taught us pertaining to what is important. We get together weekly for pray and bible study. Thanks to social media, we are able to do this.

I just want to say thanks for raising such a great bunch of kids.

Your first-born son

John Jr