For this post, I have chosen five women that I feel have had such an amazing impact on my life since childhood. The lessons that I have learned from each of them are ones that I will take with me throughout the rest of my entire life. They are all truly amazing and I love each and every one of them more than I could ever express.
This woman is my mother! Isn't she beautiful? Everyone says it looks like she spit me out! Meaning that we look alike. I definitely take that as a compliment. Let me just give a little background information on my "mommy"! Well for starters she had my brothers and I young. My oldest brother was born when she was a senior in high school. She was an amazing track runner and basketball player. She had coaches coming from all over to see her run and scouting for her to come to their colleges! Some of them were even bold enough to try to convince her to have an abortion! Crazy huh? However...she chose to be a mom! She gave up her future dreams and aspirations of being a track start to be my and my two brother's mom! She had to drop out of high school due to my brother having some health complications. But she worked so hard and as you can see in this picture, she graduated not only with her GED, but also with an associates degree. As a child, I learned from her the importance of hard work. She taught me that there was nothing I could not accomplish! Even today, she is still an inspiration to me. I love her dearly and honestly if I wrote everything she means to me...I'm sure I'd reach the bandwidth maximum on this blog!
This amazing woman is my Grandma Ida! She was married to my Grandpa for almost 60 years before he passed away. She had 13 children...and too many grandchildren to count. I would spend every weekend and summer at my granny's house! She taught so much...like how to cook, sew, garden, and many other skills that I still use today. She also taught me how to love unconditionally. Growing up I remember she would always help others in need, regardless of the specifics of their situation. She was that type of person. She loved people no matter the circumstances. She never placed judgement and welcome even the most wayward soul. She passed away when I was fifteen, and I still think of her and miss her. I can only hope that she is proud of me, and the woman I have become.
This woman is my Aunt Nancy! She is the youngest of my Grandma Ida's children. When I was born, she was still in school and living with my grandparents. She took care of me like I was her own little baby and that continued as I grew up. Throughout my childhood, I would spend spring breaks and weekends here and there with her. She has many of the same characteristics of my Grandma Ida, and instilled the same in me as my granny did. I am so thankful for the time that she spent caring for me and teaching me life lessons. Even to this day she is still an inspiration. She owns her own business and is also a mom. She is fearless, and she taught me to be the same as a child and even now as an adult! I love her forever!
This is Ms. Maude! She was my neighbor from the time I was about 9 years old up until I was approximately 12 or 13 years old. Ms. Maude had one daughter that was much older than I was, so she lived alone. For some reason, Ms. Maude and I really took to one another. She would invite me over for lunch, let me help her with her garden/flowers, or to just sit out on the porch and drink sweet tea. Not sure if I mentioned, but I am the only girl. I think that's why Ms. Maude started to take to me. Mainly because I was always alone. So, she became a great friend. She taught me so much growing up. We would go to church together and she also would give me cooking lessons! She was and still is an amazing woman! I don't get to see her as much as I did growing up, but I still get to sit with her and drink sweet tea on her front porch every now and again. I have so many fond memories of time spent with Ms. Maude and I will forever cherish them!
Now, last but certainly not least...is my Great Aunt Edith. This is very difficult for me to type. I still miss her so much. Everything about her from her laugh, to her smell, to her delicious potato salad. She passed away from lung cancer almost five years ago, and let me tell you...it's still not easy to deal with. This woman was more like a grandmother to me than a great aunt. She would babysit my brothers and I when my mom worked. She taught me how to fish and how to drive even...and so much more. She was always so encouraging to me as a child and as an adult. This is kind of difficult...so I think I'll just end with this...my Aunt Edith was the pilar of strength. She was truly the definition of a super woman. She taught me how to love and not to care what others thought about it. I will forever and always cherish her memory and everything that she has taught me. She was and still is amazing!
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