Celebrating Stella

September 11, 2011

Celebrating Stella

Engagement picture

Every Sunday night I plan to celebrate my mom. She has Alzheimer, as most of you know, and watching this disease slowly progress in this person who I remember as vibrant and so cheerful, breaks my heart in immeasurable ways. Instead of tears though, I was to celebrate who my mom was before this disease defined her. And so once a week, I am going to share with you the women Stella is in my eyes. I hope you celebrate her too, as I know if she knew what was going on right now she would be devastated. So tonight I was to celebrate a memory I so fondly hold on to of my mother. My mom did many things as we grew up. But I always remember how well she took care of herself. Her hair was always done perfectly, make-up was essential, and the right clothes to hide your imperfections were an absolute necessity. She never wore shorts or short skirts because she always felt her legs were too skinny. She always stayed away from pale colors because she felt they made her look a little too pale. She had her colors done and she was warm fall colors and she stuck to them. She was always complimented wherever we went on how beautiful she looked. And to this day people will stop and ask how she is doing and say she was always so pretty! Once in an airport in Germany, a man stopped in front of use while walking to catch another plane and said "wow!" to my mother and went on his marry way. And now as this disease has taken away her ability to physically take care of herself in that way, my dad does her hair in the morning, bathes her like he is washing his own self, and dresses her with the right clothes in her "color". Her make-up is still done daily and she still is so beautiful. Love you mom...

My dedication

Stylish!

One of my favorite pics of mom...her pearls with her summer dress...we were probably going no where fancy, just groceries, planting, and dinner making!