Death Cloaks and Birthday Cakes

What day is it? Well, let me tell ya. It’s a BIG day here at Bagwine Ruminations.

It’s an anniversary of sorts.

You see…On June 16th, 2006, my mom passed on.

After being married to one man, birthing nine kids, cooking innumerable pounds of meat loaf, and living nearly 85 years, mom left this earth to be with her husband and oldest son in that great Dutch Oven in the sky.

I miss the old lady. But, she was ready to go at that point; she wanted to go, and so, it’s for the best.

Mom and I were pretty close. I was her baby, and for a long time after most of the older kids had moved out, it was just her and I.

Dad didn’t give a crap about mom and I…he left us to fend for ourselves. Ha, kidding, he was at work during the day, so that’s why it was just Mom and I.

She drove me to all of my baseball practices…sat amidst a bunch of whiny parents and watched every game. She even bought me a "diamond" stud earring to wear during my High School graduation.

It’s the one I still wear to this day. Some folks, after losing their mom, will say that she is, and always will be in their heart. My mom is and always will be, in my left earlobe.

With nine kids and only my dad being the one working...feeding, clothing, and taking care of us was rough on Mom.

Somehow, she managed to do it. We never missed out on anything. We never went without anything that we absolutely needed.

Mom was an ardent Catholic and yet, hated the hierarchy of the Church. She loved playing cards, drinking a cold Bock beer, and politics.

With a son who was a city commissioner and later a State Senator, and another who was also a city commissioner, she always had her hand in politics.

And trust me, just as she did while playing cards, when she was involved in a campaign, she loved to win.

She was sweet, humorous, sentimental, and at the same tough as nails and resourceful.

I am glad my mom is gone. Because…that is what she wanted. And, she is back in the arms of her lifelong love, my dad.

To want any less for her would be selfish of me, and that is a characteristic she never had.

Here’s to you Mom, and if you don’t mind I’d like to mention one other anniversary.

Longtime Bagwine friend and an Italian man of questionable sexual orientation, Vinny, of Bond’s Big Leather Couch is celebrating his birthday today.

Leave it to Vinny to try and steal the thunder and attention away from my sweet, dead mom. So typical.

Ha…My mom probably just laughed and said what she always said to me, “Matt, why do you have to always see how far you can push people?”

Anyhoo…If you’d like to wish him well, you can stop by his site by clicking HERE.

Happy Birthday Vinny, and keep in mind…while you are celebrating and wearing a big ol’ happy hat, I’ll be sitting in the dark, wrapped in a death cloak, and mourning the loss of my dear departed mother.

While Vinny is cutting cake, I’ll be crying in my Bagwine and I…Okay Mom, I heard ya…I’ll shut up now, and leave Vinny alone.

Cheers!!