Skip to main content

Painting in memory of a special woman

Today, I am grateful for my mother. 12 years ago, July 11, 1999, my mother, Laura Jean Snitzer went to what many of us would call a better place. I am grateful for the 13 years that I had her in my life and the 12 years after that I have had continued support from family and friends.

I spent this (warm) day with Noel at the beginning, which is always comforting. I then went to dinner with Stephanie at Brett's Casual American. I absolutely have to recommend 1. their chips and salsa and 2. their tomato soup. It doesn't matter if it's 110 degrees outside...I lap that stuff up.

We then spent two fun hours doing one of my mother's favorite activities: Painting!


If no one has ever done Sips n Strokes or Pints and Paints, I recommend trying it! *Stephanie recommends more strongly Pints and Paints now having done both.

I realize that it's been a while since I posted. I can't say that there's been any reason for that. I'm just as busy as I was when I was working...I just have not made the time. I was recently told my a friend of mine that he enjoyed reading my posts...it's nice to hear I have fans. I will try to pick this back up as I move on to a huge change and very different chapter in my life. For those who don't know (a.k.a. those living under a rock, as I've talked about this incessantly for months now), I am moving to Washington, DC to begin a Master's in Public Health Program at The George Washington University. I will also be working with OWL (formally known as the Older Women's League).

I just got great news this week:
1. I was one of two students selected in the 2013 class to serve as Managing Editor for the Cases in Public Health Communication & Marketing Journal at GWU. There are only 6 of this position and 2 were offered to incoming first-year students. I am very excited about this opportunity!!

2. I was approved for my apartment. These are preliminary photos. You all know that more will come once I've spiced it up and added some character. If you're interested in pen-paling, I'll give you my address. Something about receiving a hand written mailed letter just makes me happy.


For now, I say goodnight. I wish could tell you a sweet saying mom used to tell me before bed...but I just don't remember one. I will end with one of my fondest memories, however:

I was in 6th grade (a year before she passed away) and was going to school at St. Martin's Episcopal. Mom had picked me and Russell up from SMES and we then went to Marist to pick Lindsay up. Lindsay had (and still has) permanent claim on the front seat. I'm not sure if other families fought as much as we did about this...but there were definite brawls over the front seat. Lindsay got in and mom handed her a grocery bag and said, "I got lollipops, pick one out," as she handed the bag to Lindsay. Lindsay put her hand in, looked in the bag, grabbed one and handed it to Russell while smiling at me. Russell then put his hand in, looked in the bag, grabbed one and made a horribly disgusted face. I was very confused as Russell handed me the bag for me to pick my flavor. I then looked into the bag to see a third lollipop, a razor and shaving cream. I had been granted the permission to shave. This was a glorious day in a young 6th grader's eyes. I smiled from ear to ear while Lindsay, Russell and Mom all burst out into laughter. Russell, a 4th grader at the time, had no desire to imagine his older sister shaving her legs, hence the disgusted face.

My excitement and joy were quickly shattered as mom quickly followed up, "Now, when you get home, change into your swim team bathing suit and I'll teach you how to shave."

I am grateful that my mother lives on in so many memories, material possessions, but most importantly people. Rest in peace, Laura Jean Snitzer Boozer.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

The first day.

I was sitting in a recent talk given by an old professor of mine, Dr. Elaine Cress, and one of her suggestions for those who want to age gracefully was to begin keeping a gratefulness journal. My journal was born. Today, the day after my mother's birthday, I am grateful for everyone that I have in my life. I have seen loss, just as everyone else has, but I have so much more to be grateful for that the loss is somehow lessened. I watched last night, on the Fourth of July, a family gain a new member. They were all sitting in the waiting room together, happy. Today, this is what I am grateful for. I have two amazing siblings and we are now all in the same state again, all living 1 hour away from each other at most. This has not been the case for quite some time now, and it has already begun to make my life better. Aunt Karen, my mother's sister, texted me last night to remind me of her love for me. I am grateful for all of my extended family, especially the seemingly 16 mothers I ...

11 Years

Today I am grateful for the people who support me every day, every week, every year, and especially those who have been there for me for the last 11 years. Of course, this isn't an all encompassing list of those who have been there for me...but merely a start. I have had so many women in my life who stepped up to the plate when they didn't have to, but just because of the love they had for mom and my family and me and my siblings and my dad... Lindsay, Lynn, Karen, Mama Liz, Grandmama Boozer, Cheryl, Lou Ann, Teri, Kathryn, Kelly, Kathy...and more. At this point I consider myself to have at least 10 mothers in my life. I am so grateful to have so many amazing women supporting me throughout my life. I can't forget about the men who have supported me through life either, namely Dad. But there are so many more... Sitting in the Whatever It Takes meeting I had many thoughts about a successful childhood and what it really takes. I am amazed at how lucky I am that, even though I ...

I've fallen in love with fall

Realizing that I had been taking all of these great photos of the fun things I have gotten to do lately, and that I haven't stopped in too long to discuss how grateful I am for my life, I decided to do a quick update. Today, I am grateful for fall weather, seeing Noel's eyes light up when he watches glass blowing, and good friends who are always willing to be the "third wheel." Yesterday, Noel, Jade and I went to the Renaissance Festival outside of Annapolis, MD. I have not seen Noel so excited to be in company of so many (strange) people! So, we nerded out and walked around, drinking beer out of our handmade mugs and eating (them) turkey legs and (me) fried bread. It was a healthy sort of day. I think the best part of the day was watching Noel watch the glass blowing from the artisans at Art of Fire . Jade , being the awesome person she is, couldn't resist buying up BOTH of the pieces that we watched being made. Which brings me to Jade. I'm not sure I...