Happy Mother's Day

My daughter Penny just posted a beautiful "Mother Days" blog so I decided to reminisce and write about Mother's day. First of all, I'd like to wish all mothers out in blogworld a big Happy Mother's Day to the 3 mothers in my life, my mother in law, may she stay well and active for many many years to come and the mothers of my grandchildren, May they also stay well and continue to be the best mothers they are.

A word about my mother in law. I have always appreciated her relationship with me as she always treated me as a daughter (and more times than not took my side on many issues). This has been especially wonderful in the past 18 years since my own mother passed away.

Mother's Day, when I was growing up, was a very important day in our house. Not so much in honoring my mother, but my grandmother, Bubby Zelda. We went to her house every mother's day and NOTHING could get in the way of that. I remember in about 1963 when Yeshiva University was on College Bowl in NY and I was able to get tickets to go see it...but no, it was on Mother's Day and I was not allowed to go (I went to the t.v. studio the week afterwards, their third and losing appearance).

My mother A"H was first and foremost a friend. Growing up we were very close. I only wish long distance was cheaper in the 70's that we could have maintained as close a relationship even after I moved to Baltimore. Baruch Hashem, my children are here and we are extremely close. I learned a great deal from my mother. She was a fighter. She had a rheumatic heart and had 3 heart valve replacements. She was never really 100% well while I was growing up but that didn't stop her from being a very active rebbetzin, a real ezer to my father A"H. She was very active in the Women's Branch of the OU, even chairing the Lady Bird Johnson Scholarship for Stern College for them. I'll never forget when she was on stage with the First Lady. She was educated. She always regretted never finishing college, but that didn't stop her from completing the entire NY Times Sunday crossword puzzle (in pen, no less) up until the Sunday before her stroke. She had an intensive Hebrew education, attending Shulamit High School which in those days was a very intensive Hebrew High school which met on Sundays and after public school. She later continued her Hebrew education, taking courses at T.I.W., part of Y.U., while I was at Stern. She worked at Stern in the Registrar's office and loved it. I still meet alumni who remember her from the office. She was a devoted Bubby, when she was well enough to do it. She once came into Baltimore, from NY, when Penny was in Morah Salfer's nursery class to go on a class trip to Safety City. I learned a lot about mothering and grandmothering from Bubby Shendel. I get a real thrill when I realize that 2 of my granddaughters are named for her. Penny wears her wedding band, and everytime I look at her left hand I am reminded of her. I miss you Mommmy. Happy Mother's Day. You too, Bubby Zelda.