Happy Birthday, Mother

Wow, it is January 15, 2009 and I have had so much to write about that I have written nothing. I couldn’t decide what I wanted to say or talk fast enough about all the good things that have been happening. Let me start with a few today and continue with more in the NEAR future. First of all, today is my Mother’s birthday. Ilma Beryldine Broaddus Lynn is 92 years young today. My heart is full of love for this Godly woman. She is the most unselfish woman that you will ever meet and I am honored to be her daughter. She grew up in the Depression and lived on a farm out in the country. She talked about how she couldn’t participate in after-school activities because she didn’t have a way to get home from them. As a consequence she was shy. As I was growing up, she used to say to me repeatedly, “I want you to go out and learn how to be with people…..all kinds of people.” I was even grounded one time for about 10 minutes until my friend Carol came by and honked the horn in her Metallic Blue Mustang convertible and wanted me to go get a Coke at the Ranger drive-in in Amarillo (Sometimes we went to Stanley’s, too). Mother stuck her head in the door of my room and said, “Carol’s here and wants you to go get a Coke.” I thought “She doesn’t know how this grounding thing works.” Looking back, I think she just had so much love in her heart that she couldn’t stand for me to miss out. Miss out on all the things that she had missed out on. She said she always thought that I would have a bunch of children. I had two and two amazing ones, at that. But I think one reason, I love my business so much is that I consider all the wonderful people that walk through my studio door to be family. Family that I love and take an interest in their lives, love to watch grow from little scamps (another word that my mom uses a lot) into beautiful young adults with families of their own. Anyway, my Mom moved down to Houston after my Dad died, almost 20 years ago. She was the minister’s secretary at First Christian Church in Amarillo. She typed more sermons than I can imagine and always had a listening ear for the people that came in to see Dr. Robinson and Dr. Bridwell and a few others. By the time the minister could see them, they had forgotten what they were upset about. She was a great listener. When she moved to Houston, she was not interested in retiring. That woman loves to work! She helped me number negatives for many years until I “went digital” and there were no more negatives to number. She always greeted people at the door when I worked out of my house and many of you to this day, ask about her. Now she lives at a memory loss center and the people out there tell me she is one of the sweetest ladies they have. One told me that she is appreciative for even the smallest thing they do for her. I am so grateful for her example to be grateful and for encouraging me to go out and be with people….all kinds of people….people just like all of you. Happy New Year and I am so grateful that YOU are in my life.