Just a couple of weeks ago I was taking my mother to the airport because her mother (my grandmother, a.k.a. Gon-Gon) passed away at the age of 92. (She was flying home to be with her family and attend the funeral.) As we were driving to the airport we began talking about Gon-Gon, family and catching up while we had a little time to chat. When we got to the airport and got her checked in, the lady at the counter said she didn’t feel real confident about there being a seat for her since her flight was booked at the last minute. I immediately saw the concern on Mom’s face, but the lady said to go ahead and get through security and wait at the gate and she might get on that flight or the next one. I felt so helpless as my mom went through security to the unknown. I knew she was worried about whether she was going to get out and what to do next. Probably a lot of the same feelings our Moms had for us as we went to school for the first time.
Just to tell you a little about Mom, she was born and raised in England and didn’t move to America until she was in her 20’s. She is and has been such a great mom to me and my sister. And for that I am very thankful.
As I was driving home, all I could think of was Mom and how I wished I was there to help her through this. I also was thinking of a lot of the good things Mom has done for me… and basically how much I love her.
This one story came to mind and I have to laugh when I think of it. Back when I was younger and still lived at home in my early 20’s (and relatively early in my 3D archery career), nearly every Saturday and Sunday morning from January til August I would get up and go compete somewhere in archery competitions. And every morning as I would leave I would tell Mom bye and ask for her to wish me luck. She would say back to me in her sweet, English accent, “Good luck and keep your eye on the sparrow.”
Well, this went on for more than a year and every weekend she would spill that line, and it must have been working cause I had been doing pretty well in the tournaments. Then I had a run of bad tournaments and I guess became numb to Mom’s well wishes. But she still told me every weekend, continuing her support. Then one morning I came down stairs droopy, depressed, but preparing to leave and I yelled through the house, “Bye Mom.” Her English accent yelled back to me “Keep your eye on the eagle,” and that caught me off guard, so I went to her and asked, “Mom, I thought it was “Keep your eye on the sparrow?” Mom said, “It is, but you just can’t seem to hit that DANG SPARROW!” We laughed and to this day it still puts a smile on my face. And it’s a story I love to tell.
Turns out she got on her flight and made it to England just fine. She is coming home soon and I can’t wait to give her a hug. I love my MOM.
Hangin’ Tough,
T-Bone
P.S. And don’t forget to comment on the great mom stories you have. Tell me how your mom has supported you through your trials in life…and don’t pretend you're too old or too cool to comment. You’re not!
T-Bone,
I love my mom so much. She is always there for me when I am happy or sad and she always supports me in what ever I do. When I am sad she knows how to make me laugh and when I am happy she makes me laugh even more. I LOVE MY MOM.
God Bless,
Kristle Oberlander-GA
Bone,
In my case it was my Grandmother instead of my Mom who made it possible for me to hunt and fish. Both of my Grandfathers passed away when I was between 10 and 13 years of age, making it tough to find someone to take me hunting. My father was in the music business and spent most of the year on the road working.
My Grandmother new how much it meant to me that I be able to hunt and fish so when I was 14 she gave me the keys to my Grandfathers 1974 Bronco and told me to be careful........oh yea, and to bring some supper home. She always made sure I had gas money to go hunting and fishing and even helped me find places to hunt by talking to old friends in our church.
Shortly after recieving my first bow (Whitetail Hunter) she showed a tremendous amount of patience with me as I shot up everything in the backyard.....including a couple feral cats.
She passed away this in February but lived long enough to see me be able to make a living in the hunting business. I love her and miss her very much.
John Brown Jr.
Hey Bud.
I know just what you mean. I love my mother just about as much as anything. She is also from England and that Accent allways gets me. She has always supported me in everthing that I have set out to conquer and I hope that I have as much stength left in me to do the same with my children.
Take Care and Happy Hunting.
Kelly
T,
Man this blog hits home man. Mom's are so important to us. Basically, without them we ain't here! :)
Anyway, I have so many stories about great things my mom has done I don't have enough hours to typ them. I'll just leave one thing about her. She could always tell when something was wrong with me. I'd go into her room as she wa sitting and watching TV or whatever and sit and watch. Well, that was the first give away, cause that is the only time I did that really :) Hey, cut me some slack, I was a teenager at the time! Anyway, whatever it was she helped me deal with it and things always seemed to get better.
Love ya MOM! :)
Michael Lee
Southern Backwoods Adventures