I'd like to state on here in front of God and everybody how much my mama means to me.  Yesterday morning, the phone rang at 8:30 a.m.  It was my 79-year-old Daddy and he was crying.  I've never heard my daddy cry.  Daddies aren't suppose to cry unless something really devastating has happened and I came to attention really fast.  Through his sobs and gasps he said mama was being rushed to the hospital.

My mama.  Probably the most selfless 'good' human being God ever created.  Bright blue eyes and hardly even a gray hair at the age of 79.  (She'd be mortified at me saying that, concerned people would think she dyed her hair, which she doesn't except for a few highlights here and there)  Mama is a painter, a reader and a gracious southern cook.  She always fixes too much so the guests will have a take home plate.  She was forever showing up at my house for a visit with a little jar of skim milk, as to not be taking the milk out of the mouth of my babes.  “No, no…you keep your money,” she'd say as the cashier at McDonalds would ask for one more penny.  I've never heard mama raise her voice or even sound irritated.  (now there was that time she said,”damn” when a New Orleans policeman pulled her over for speeding but she had good reason).

And here she was, right about when she ought to be reading her bible or starting the Atlanta Journal crossword puzzle, but was instead racing in an ambulance through the streets of Atlanta on a bright orange and red-yellow fall day.  And in her pajamas no less.   Although mama had been unconscious, she managed to come to when daddy called 911 and said “I have to comb my hair.”  She may have been going out feet first with no lipstick, but by golly her hair would look good!

Mama was admitted to the hospital and we all gathered round her bed asking if there was anything she needed.  A top cardiologist showed up right away and began ordering all sorts of scans and poking and prodding tests, giving her his undivided attention.  (His wife plays bridge with my older sister and had called that morning saying “You get down to the ER right now and take care of Jody's mama!”

  After about three hours of this, mama began to get aggrevated that we were all there, sitting by her bed, staring and making her our number one priority for the day.  Wasn't there somewhere else we needed to be?  When could she get something to eat? 

Things were looking a bit more settled so we headed to mama and daddy's house so I could pack her a bag.  As I was digging through mama's purse, looking for her lipstick and little face tube, I felt a sneeze coming on and before I could grab a tissue, sneezed right into mama's bag.   I've just spent nine days in bed with God only knows what and here I am spitting in mama's pocketbook.  Good heaven's above…

We checked the mail, picked three pretty pink roses and headed back to the hospital.  By this time, mama was being moved into a room and she was still waiting on tests results.  She'd about decided this was all due to a bad reaction from taking Cipro or maybe it was the baseball size vaccine welt from the pneumonia shot she'd just had.  Whatever it was, mama was fit to be tied and ready to go home. This was way too much attention for her.

By the end of the day, we left her peacefully reading over the hospital menu, asking about the 'Salmon…was that in a patty?”, pronouncing the 'L', of course. 

No tests have revealed the culprit, but what has indeed come to light is how precious my mama is.  The day will indeed come too soon and I'll wish for just one more afternoon sitting and reading magazines and talking about what new country music video just came out or did I see what the one cent deal at Publix was this week.   I realize I'm not seeing my mama as much as I want to and that's going to change.  Thank God for mamas and thank you Lord for keeping mine safe this week.

I can so relate to this post. I miss my mama so much. She passed on May 27, 2009. I'll never get over this. I feel so abandoned and alone.

Losing my mom is the worst thing that's ever happened to me.

My Mom passed away April 29, 2001. For along time, I felt like I had lost the anchor that held down to the earth..It gets easier as time goes by but there's not a day that goes by that she is not missed.

okabarb….I love that image.  I have my grandmama's feet and it's so funny that I think of her everytime I paint my toes. 

Yall's words are soo sweet and kind and I love your wonderful hearts.  I love the black and white picture of that beautiful mama.  What gorgeous legs! 

My mama is doing well today.  She was SO frustrated at the whole scenario and I don't think she has a clue how scared we all were. 

I remember when mama's mother died…the night before mother's day.  Mama had to take grandmama's mother's day gift back to the counter at Rich's and tell them her mama had died before she could give the gift.  All the ladies hugged mama and waved as she left.."We love you….." they called out.   Girls are so wonderful, aren't they?  Just as yall have demonstrated here….