A Son's Tribute: Remembering Mom

So buckle up and enjoy the ride . You know the saying better late than never . Well , that's what this episode is . Last Sunday was Mother's Day . I fully intended to post this last Sunday , but things got in the way . Better late than never . Here's my Mother's Day episode .

Last Sunday , I couldn't help but think about my own mother and the impact she had on my life . My mother-in-law had a huge impact also Both wonderful women . I also thought about the mother of my own children , linda , and what a great mom she is .

If you follow along on my personal episodes , you know that in 2023 , my daughter , lauren gave me the gift of story worth . She basically presented me with 53 questions to answer over the course of a year . One of those questions was what was your mom like when you were a child ?

In honor of Mother's Day , I thought I would share about my mother , and here's the story . At times , I've described her as protective , but the more accurate word is overprotective . That was her way of expressing love . Married to an over-the-road truck driver , she spent most of the week at home raising her two boys on her own .

I often wonder if being in a sense a single mom during the week made her even more protective . Regardless , she handled everything , week after week , with unwavering dedication . I remember riding with her in my Jeep , a stick shift , and being amazed when she could effortlessly shift gears . Surprised , I asked how did you learn to drive a manual transmission ?

Without hesitation , she replied I drove a jeep in my younger days . She was a country girl at heart , never drawn to the city life . Incredibly smart , she had the kind of analytical mind that could have made her an excellent computer programmer or maybe an accountant . She was always thinking logically , approaching life with a practical and sharp intelligence .

Logically approaching life with a practical and sharp intelligence . She was relentless in her work ethic , never one to sit idle when there was a job to be done After a full day at the store , she would bring work home . It could be stamping food stamps In those days . They were paper and they had to be stamped with the paid stamp .

Or typing up statements on the typewriter . Her philosophy was simple If you're being paid , there's always something worth doing , and she meant it . If I hadn't swept up the store porch and straightened the pop bottles the night before , I knew I'd be up early to finish the task , before the doors opened at 7 30 . She instilled a deep sense of responsibility .

Work wasn't just a duty , it was a reflection of character . She instilled in me the importance of giving back , often by volunteering me for certain jobs like cutting grass at the cemetery , or for a kind woman named Mrs Ross . I remember her telling me now don't accept Mrs Ross's money .

I tried my best to slip away unnoticed after finishing the work , but more often than not Mrs Ross would catch me before I could make my escape . Mom had no patience for con artists . I remember a trip to Atlanta . My brother had left home by then and we were meeting Dad there .

We stopped at a service station for gas back when attendants still checked the oil and under the hood for problems , one tried to convince Mom there was a problem with the fan belt . Without hesitation she told him we're meeting my husband just down the road . Once we were back in the car she said did you see him banging his watch band on the metal frame ?

She had spotted his trick instantly , trying to make it seem like there was something wrong . She wasn't fooled for a second and had no attention of playing into his scam . One of the things my mom was known for and that she absolutely loved was gift giving .

I could rarely leave her home without a $20 bill tucked into my pocket , even as an adult , a small token of her generosity . She was famous for her cash gifts to us at Christmas , always making sure someone had some cash to take along with them so that they could buy something that they desired .

Looking back as an adult , I wonder if those gifts may not have always fit comfortably into her budget , but that never stopped her Giving was simply a part of who she was and a way of showing love and making sure others felt cared for . She had no patience for people who put on a show , whether it was bragging about their wealth or flaunting their knowledge .

She valued authenticity , and you always knew where you stood with her . She valued authenticity and you always knew where you stood with her . She never hesitated to speak her mind , holding nothing back when it came to honesty . She was an incredible cook and even after all these years I can still taste her meals as if they were made yesterday .

She worked her magic in a tiny eat-in kitchen and , looking back , I'm still amazed at how she managed it all . Sunday dinners were a tradition we eagerly anticipated She'd wake up early , start the meal before church and finish it up once we got home by one o'clock .

Dinner was ready , always plentiful , always delicious , and she always made enough to welcome any unexpected guest who happened to stop by . Not a single day passes without thoughts of her crossing my mind . I find myself wishing I could ask her just a few more questions , hear her wisdom one more time and soak in the guidance she always seemed to have for us .

If your mother's still alive , I hope you'll reach out to her . I hope you'll give her a hug if she's close by . I miss mine every day and I hope you have a blessed day . Thank you for tuning in to Dan , the Road Trip Guy . I hope you enjoyed our journey today and the stories that were shared .

If you have any thoughts or questions or stories of your own , I'd love to hear from you . Feel free to reach out to me anytime . Don't forget to share this podcast with your friends and family and help us to spread the joy of road trips and great conversations . Until next time , keep driving , keep exploring and keep having those amazing conversations .

Safe travels and remember you can find me on the internet at dantheroadtripguycom .