Goodbye Margie
About
15 years ago I found myself alone with my mother-in-law in her Virgina
home. She'd stayed behind to prepare Sunday dinner while everyone
else
went gallivanting. I was watching the Redskin game, and she
would
wander in from time to time. I assumed she was just being
hospitable— until the Redskins were burned by a long pass play.
I
uttered an oath; she cried out, "That corner back [name] has been the
weak link in that defense all year!" WTF? I was truly
gob-smacked by
that bit of arcane analysis by this mother of my wife (who thinks a
line backer is a Detroit Lions fan (she's from Michigan).
"How in God's name did
you know that?" I asked.
"I know a lot of things,"
she responded with a twinkle.
And she did. We buried her next to her husband Dan
yesterday. She
outlived him by 19 years. She has surely gone straight
to
Heaven. No purgatory time at all. I am most
fortunate; my in-laws
were and are some of the best people I've ever known. I told
mother-in-law jokes, but they were bereft of any rancor. I loved
the
woman, and her husband.
Looking around the church hall after the funeral I saw her
legacy. Three generations of the most beautiful offspring I've
ever seen. And all
of
them as sweet and kind as she was. That's a fine legacy.
R.I.P.
Margie.
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That is a beautiful tribute, Rodger. So sorry for your family's loss. God Bless All.
ReplyDeleteThanks Juice. She somewhat stopped being her real self a while ago, and desperately wanted to move on. Her funeral was more a celebration of her life than a mourning. The family had plenty of notice.
ReplyDeleteI never knew the woman, but I will add my 2 cents... if ANYONE has a Mother-In-Law who they wish to speak well of, mine hated me, but respected that I was trying to do the best I could to provide for her daughter, and later on, her grand kids.
ReplyDeleteMissus Gus, I'm trying to be Right by your grand-kids now, too, and from what your grand-son tells me, your Great Grand Baby in about four months!
Thank you for how you raised your daughter. She used that to raise our kids, and out kids to raise theirs! You did good, Ma'am!
Condolences, Rodge.
ReplyDeleteThey say, if you want to see what your fiancée will be like in 20 years ...
That was beautiful Roger. God bless Margie, and you, and your family.
ReplyDeleteI never realized what an influence in-laws could have in a persons life until I had my first child. What a blessing for you to have such a legacy. May we all know the joy she is experiencing today. My deepest condolences to you and the family.
ReplyDeleteI loved my mother-in-law. She died much too young, my wife of 38 years is much like her.
ReplyDelete-Steve_in_CA
I work every day with troubled kids on a Christian boys ranch and the common denominator is dysfunctional family. There is probably no greater blessing in life than a good family and they don't come by accident. Thank God for those who do it right.
ReplyDeleteCondolences to MoSup and yourself.
ReplyDeleteMy dear wife and I were having a "discussion" about some extended family issues one day which I brought to a sudden halt with the line "Oh yeah? Well I have better in-laws than you do."
ReplyDeleteWhen we first married my MIL never really cottoned to me. But from that day on, she and I have gotten along just fine.
I got a couple glasses of wine into her a few years ago and she fessed up that she had overheard our discussion that day...
Beautifully said Rodger. She was obviously one of the great ones. My condolences to you and your family my friend.
ReplyDeletePrayers for You , and Yours Boss ; ( > SMIBSID
ReplyDeleteRodger,
ReplyDeleteI saw your "RIP Margie" a few days ago, and knew you lost somebody, then came your blog silence and I have been holding my breath wondering who.
You obviously did well in choosing her daughter, loving her and her parents, and now writing that sweet, loving tribute to her parents above.
I'm sorry for your loss, and hope you and Mother Superior will find comfort in many good memories of her.
Lt. Col. Gen. Tailgunner dick
Yeah Dick, good eye. I don't like to talk about stuff like this in real time. Thanks to all of you.
ReplyDeleteThat was beautiful, Rodger.
ReplyDeleteA loving tribute. God bless her, you, and your family. Rest, in peace.
ReplyDeleteSorry I havn't said so sooner, I have been on the road. These are hard times and sometimes I envy the Dead. I am sorry for your loss.
ReplyDeletethoR~
Just learned of this. My condolences, Rodger.
ReplyDeleteA wonderful tribute, and thoughts and prayers out to you all.
ReplyDeleteThe best of all possible ways to be remembered, when you think about it.
ReplyDeleteWe are diminished.
Sir H the Comet