A newspaper clipping from mom

I found it as a news paper clipping that mom had in one of her many baskets of clippings.

To My Grown-Up Son

May hands were busy through the day
I didn't have much time to play
The little games yo asked me to
I didn't have much time for you
I'd wash your clothes, I'd sew and cook,
But when you'd bring your picture book
And ask me please to share your fun,
I'd say:"A little later, son."
I'd tuck you in all safe at night
And hear your prayers, turn out the light,
Then tiptoe softly to the door...
I wish I'd stayed a minute more.
For life is short, the years rush past...
A little boy grows up so fast.
No longer is he at your side,
His precious secrets to confide.
The picture books are put away,
There are no longer games to play,
No good-night kiss, no prayers to hear...
That all belongs to yesteryear.

My hands, once busy, are now still.
The days are long and hard to fill.
I wish I could go back and do
The little things you asked me to.

The funny thing is it was always me that thought I didn't spend enough time with her. So for those of you with young kids, enjoy and don't forget they grow up fast.

Thoughts about mom

Hannah (Ann) Cottrell

May 20th, 1925 - January 2nd, 2010

My fav picture of mom. 1944 in Camp Borden. Where she snagged dad :-)






Susan, David and I were very lucky. We grew up with parents that loved us and took very good care of us. We didn’t always know that back then. We didn’t like doing the chores and would complain like normal kids, or at least some of us. Susan would complain that I was getting away with murder and Dave would complain when he had to do the dishes and I would keep my mouth shut and slip out the back door while mom was telling them to do as they were told. Dad in the mean time was having his after dinner constitutional and doing his best imitation of bobbing for apples in his chair.

When dad passed away 16 years ago it fell on us three to fill in for dad and take care of mom. Over the years I wonder sometimes who took care of who more. Mom helped all of us in more ways than one. She was always there for us and even still nagged us if we needed it. It was not the old, “Pick it up and put it away” line but it was still mom caring and instead of rolling our eyes we would say, “yes mom”

When we would come to visit there would aways be a wish list that mom would have or sunnydolist as I called it. Being familiar with the hunnydolist already I knew what was expected and tackled the jobs that mom had for me. I know Susan and Dave had the same experiences when they would visit. Until I moved back to the area that would only be when we came on vacation. Mom would have the list and I would work on it and she would be telling me to relax you are on vacation. Yes mom... I liked doing it and never minded. I knew what dad would have expected from all of us and we were there for mom.

On top of my weekly visits home there would be the phone conversations once or twice a week. Mom was always up on what was going on and loved to talk about current events. She told me that she loved to talk to all three of us as there was always that freedom to talk about things that you wouldn’t to other people. I think that stemmed from mom’s old conversations at the dinning room table at supper with dad. She would be on a rant about something and then seemed to remember that we were sitting there. She would turn to us and say. “You don’t repeat anything you hear at this table out of this room”. We would assure mom that we would never think of doing that. We wanted to reach or next birthday with all our body parts attached...

I the last few years more of our time with mom had been running back and forth to Dr. And hospitals. We never minded even though mom would keep saying you don’t have to do this. I would tell yes I do. Never told her it was my job because it was not a job. Did it because I loved her and of course it was what dad wanted. Our job was to take care of mom. It was not a job but a duty which I discharged with love until last Saturday. I know that our temporary job of taking care of mom is over and she is now back with dad. I’m sure he will be happy with the love and support that we provided to mom in his absence...

Regrets... everyone has them. There was something that you didn’t do or something that you did do that you shouldn’t have. While mom was in the hospital I always wanted to tell her not to worry. Dad was waiting for her and would take care of her. Telling her that would have meant admitting that she was leaving us and that is hard to do...

She is with dad now and we have discharged our duty to her and to dad. We were the temporary help and our job is done. I am not sad because she is back with dad but I will miss her.

Too Long

Wow it's been nearly a year. No excuses other than every time I thought of something to say I would have been sued for it :-) Next post is about mom. Unfortunate that family get togethers are either for weddings or funerals and are always too short.

Hind sight is 20/20 and we have to live with our regrets but I think that mom will forgive me for one laps :-)

Sick and Tired

I am sick and tired of being sick. This winter has been a bugger. It seems like the cold that I caught before xmas is still hanging on. Everyone that I see and work with is dieing of colds and flue. Sore throat which is the worst for me and then cough so hard I thought my head would blow off. Take drugs be the hand full and for what, nothing worked. People show up to work when they should be home, bloody heros. The place wouldn't run without them. Let me tell you it would and will so stay home and don't spread your germs to the rest of us that are trying to get better.

Flu shots..... bah humbug. based on last years flu they were usless again.

Like my wife says WASH YOUR HANDS. Something like over 90% of colds and flues are transfered by touch.

Mom says she will be happy when winter is over as she can feel it. Hell I can feel it too. Here's to spring whenever it gets here.

On the bright side the crappy winter is great for the salt business and working at a salt mine is about as safe as it gets in today's shitty economy.

The Big 3

The question is, Should the big three get bailed out. A lot of people say no but I think more say yes. Although I think that they have done this to themselves they still should be bailed out because there are too many jobs at stake here and the hit to the economy both here and south of the border would be devastating.

The big 3 screwed themselves with their big trucks and suv's and if anyone tells me that they didn't know that gas prices were going to go up and hurt their sales, they are on crack. Gas has been going up for years and no signs of going back down. Now of course the price of gas has dropped again but it is too late. People are now scared that they might go back up again and you can see dealers yards full of trucks that they can't move.

Unfortunately the actions or the lack thereof by the head offices including sales, marketing and design have cost thousands of jobs and threaten thousands more. The current outlook shows that even with a bailout there will not be a big 3 at the end of next year. One or more will be gone. Chrysler is the best target. Chopped up and sold off in pieces with more jobs gone after 50 billion has been given to them. The big question is, will the government attach strings to the money like keeping jobs, fat chance. They will hand it over just like they did to the banks. No strings attached and away it will go.

Maybe they should give them the 50 billion on the condition that they use it to come up with electric cars. Lets see how fast they could bring something to market then. none of this 5 or 10 year crap.

The worst thing is that with all 3 in such bad shape a recent poll showed that 80% of people asked would not buy from the big 3 due to worries about them going under. It will take billions and years to get the confidence of the people back.

Does the big 3 have that long?

Obama

Well history was made last week. The reaction of the American people was a pleasant surprise. They were happy and peaceful. I, along with a lot of other people wish him luck. Unfortunately he is going to need it. The states is in a mess and he is being handed it on a platter. Two wars, economy in the tank, jobs, banks, crooks (oops I repeated myself there)

I think he can do it but it will take all of his first term to get it done if then. If he can pull it off he will get a second term np.

His choice of staff will make a big difference on how well he will do and his first appointment of Rahm Emanuel is a hot one. A pit bull that will keep everyone in line including the Democrats in congress and the senate who think that because they have everything in control it is a blank check to pork barrel heaven.

Now if he can do the same for the Sec of the Treasury and kick the banks in the ass, he will win great favour with the American people. If there is one group that is universally hated now it is the fat cats on wall street. Any measures to curb their excesses will win him points with everyone. (except those fat cats)

I think that the thing I like the most is the fact that he never said he was going to do anything. It was always "We". That's why his "Yes we can" was so well embraced and repeated. It made the American people think that they can overcome the current problems and they can live their dreams.

Good luck and congratulations President Obama