Taylored Memorial Creations

  In hindsight, it was quite comical. In the middle of it all, it was anything BUT comical. I drove to church and pulled into the circle drive. I hopped out of my little, red, 2-door Ford Escort and pushed my seat forward to help “Pauline” out of my backseat. Pauline, with one hand on the doorframe and the other on the back of my seat, grunted as she attempted to extricate herself from the back of my small Escort. At almost 6 feet and about 200 pounds, after a few minutes of Pauline’s strength alone attempting to propel her forward out of my car, I offered my hand to help. I pulled and pulled. After a good deal of laborious and determined pulling, Pauline did not appear to budge at all. We now drew spectators. People, curious about the contents of my car, began arriving, watching us with a great deal of interest. Finally, one of the male greeters came over to assist. He replaced me in the front “pulling position”, while I opened the other door and squeezed in the back s...

                           I learned I can fast, I can tolerate pain, and I have some fears... Let me share how I microscopically reflected on my colonoscopy. The colonoscopy date was set and I dreaded the thought of eating nothing but liquids the day before. I thought about how HUNGRY I would be!!                The procedure was scheduled for 3:30 in the afternoon, and I was anxious thinking about how I would deal with only liquids all day, and then nothing but the prep “special sauce” that night and into the next day.                I would be so HUNGRY! And I am crabby when I don’t eat. Sometimes when my stomach is empty, it hurts and I feel nauseous. I had no idea how I could survive those couple of days with no food.       ...

  At 23, past my “rebellious teenager” years I began to build a relationship with my mother as an adult. Then she passed away from Leukemia. She was 45. I am now more than a decade and a half older than my mother when she passed. I try to remember what lessons she may have taught me, but there were so many times in my teenage years I was “mad” at her and well, honestly, I wasn’t listening. I am embarrassed to admit, I referred to her in my diary as “Mommie Dearest”, and I pray to God that she never read those. My mother often said things like, “Were you born in a barn?” or “Wish in one hand and sh— in the other and see which one fills up first.” Classics.             I have had to delve deep into my memories, focusing on the things I remember about my mom. Replaying them in my mind and reflecting on how those events impacted my life.             The first thing ...