Monday, October 14, 2013

Remembering Nancy Carolyn Webster (1941-2013)

First of all, a huge, huge "thank you" to each of you who left a comment or e-mailed after hearing about my mom's passing last week. In June she was diagnosed with uterine cancer, which we had originally been told was very treatable and not that terrible a diagnosis. Hers, alas, ended up being a very rare, very aggressive form of the cancer that was far more complex than we ever imagined. As my sister put it, "It's unbelievable how she's going to be missed." Yes! So today I am choosing not to dwell on the pain and sorrow of the past few months but rather to reminisce about some of the fun times we had together, of which there were many! It's funny to think about how many family get-togethers revolve around food, and in my family, that has often included teatime. Thank heaven for such memories — and thank heaven (I mean that quite literally) for the gift that was Nancy Carolyn Webster. I am so blessed that I got to be one of her daughters! The photo above was taken last Thanksgiving and shows, from left, my niece Cari, Mama, Aunt Jane and my niece Madison.

Here we all are on Mother's Day a few years ago. Like most mothers, mine was never happier than when she had all her family around her! Here are Aunt Jane, Cari, me, my mom, my sister Rhonda, Amelia, and kneeling, Madison.

Last November, we had a little birthday gathering for nephew Matthew, who was turning 4 (as evidenced by the cake he requested from my dad, chocolate with his age spelled out in M&M's). Last week after my dad, sister and I got back from planning the funeral, Matthew asked me to swing him on the hammock outside my parents' house. He said, "Angela, I'm never, ever gonna forget Nana and all that she did, not even when I'm old, and not even when I get married! Seriously! For real, I'm not!" (All said with the sweetest little smile imaginable.) My dad says he is counting on these kids to help him through his grief, and I can see why!

In April last year, Mama offered her "fancy" dining room as the scene for a birthday tea party for Cari. Here, as usual, she's in the background helping make sure everyone else is served.

Some years before that, there was a birthday party for Madison, and my mom is at right holding my niece Amelia.

Back during my single years, I lived in a little house on a road called Happy Valley Circle. People often asked me if it was indeed a happy place, and it was. Here, I had gotten a tiny new "parlor set" for the porch, and I obviously squeezed everyone around it for a tea party!

I'm not sure what the occasion was here, but my mom is pouring tea for her sister, my Aunt Jane, inside the house on Happy Valley Circle. Whatever the occasion was, they look like they're having a good time!

When my two oldest nieces were little, we all went to several tea rooms together. Here everyone is at the old Tea Leaves and Thyme tea room in Woodstock, Ga.

My mom absolutely loved spending time with Cari and Madison, and later Amelia and Matthew when they came along. When we were going through some of her papers last week, we came across some calendars she had, unbeknownst to us, been keeping ever since the kids were little, each month detailing what was going on in her grandchildren's lives. Neither my sister nor I knew about those, and the older girls, especially, enjoyed reading them, although the sweet comments were certainly a cause for many tears.

This photo was taken on a trip to the Victorian Rose Tea Room in Cedartown, Ga. (After seeing this washed-out old photo, I note with interest that my photos have gotten a lot better since the digital camera came along!)

A resolution I am making: I will henceforth date pictures! I have no idea when we all went to the Chocolate Biscuit Tea Room together, but oh well, here we are in Trussville, Ala.!

Later, after an afternoon of shopping, we stopped by a bakery for snacks, and this photo of Mama and Aunt Jane is the "Mama" I will best remember. My mother was a very witty person, and I remember her telling me about the time my old high school friend who runs the Senior Center back home asked her about joining. "I'll just be honest with you," Mama said, "I don't really like being around old people 'cause I don't like hearing about all their aches and pains." And she meant it!

Another tea room we visited together was the Grand Hotel Tea Room in Hogansville, Ga.

I'll never forget that Madison wanted something besides hot tea that day, and she got so mad when the server took her teacup away and replaced it with a glass or mug or something. Such righteous indignation from such a little girl! (Cari, on the other hand, always looks like she is in constant party mode and just happy to be there!)

And finally, longtime readers of this blog know where my mom and I liked to shop, so I thought it was fitting to end on this photo showing what the gals in my family always did after teatime. Thanks for indulging me in this little walk down memory lane!

23 comments:

  1. Angela, what a sweet tribute to your lovely mother. Having recently lost a parent, I know that it was probably hard, but healing, to put together this post. Keep focusing on the good memories, I pay that they will give you comfort, and that the love of God will surround you and your family with peace. Your mother's love will always be with you. Hugs!

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  2. What wonderful memories to cherish.

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  3. What wonderful memories to cherish.

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  4. Angela, lovely memories with your mom, or mum as we Brit's say. I lost my mum last year, it,s hard.

    Thinking of you,
    Christy

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  5. Angela, isn't it wonderful that after our loved ones leave us...we can cherish sweet memories? What a loving family you are blessed to be a part of. I will pray for your family.

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  6. Thank you for sharing your memories Angela. When my husband died all the family met and brought along all their photos to share. We combined our photos and made copies for everyone in the family which gave all of us so many more memories to cherish. It really helped. One day at a time is still how I get through. God bless you and your family. Margie in CA

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  7. Hello Angela
    I so enjoyed seeing the photos of your mom and family over the years. My gosh, you gals went to a lot of tea rooms together, that would have been fun. No wonder your mother could pick out lovely tea themed gifts for you, knowing you'd love them.
    Yes, these are the days to focus on, when a mother was healthy and the memories happy. I have to do the same for my mother.
    Wishing you comfort with the next part of the journey.
    Judith

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  8. Your mother was a very special lady. Yes, it is a blessing to have wonderful memories of our loved ones. My thoughts and prayers continue to be with you.

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  9. Such lovely memories and thanks for sharing your special "mama". There will be times in the future when you will be caught off guard and surprised by a tear in the remembering and missing. Sending hugs for those times.

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  10. Angela:
    I did not know that your Mom had passed. Somehow in these busy times, I missed that post but I will be sending prayers for you during this time. I really enjoyed these photos and memories that are so wonderful.

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  11. Dear Angela - A beautiful tribute to your mother. My love to you and your family.

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  12. A beautiful tribute in words and pictures to your wonderful mother. Love and hugs to you and your family.

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  13. What a treasure you have of memories and blessings in the photos. So glad you have so many wonderful ones. Thanks so much for sharing your treasure trove with us...I am sure it was bittersweet preparing the post.
    Love to you...
    Ruth

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  14. What a BEAUTIFUL tribute, Angela! I thoroughly enjoyed viewing your photos, and you look like your mama. I like to think that she smiled as she looked down from Heaven watching you put this post together. And I like to believe that there's tea in Heaven too! My son always says the good things on earth will be included in Heaven, so she'll have the tea kettle ready and waiting for her loved ones who'll come to visit someday. [Not too sure about TJ Maxx, in Heaven though! ;-)] You're in my thoughts and prayers. Hugs, Phyllis

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  15. Angela, I loved seeing pictures of your mother and reading about each one. Somehow I feel a connection to your mother and you. Please keep the memories alive and share with us any time. Blessings

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  16. Angela, what a retrospective of your mother. Thank you for sharing it with all of us. I hope it helps you through the grief process. You, your dad and family are in my thoughts. Sending you all love and light.

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  17. Angela, this was such a sweet post. It brought tears to my eyes. Love and hugs.

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  18. Angela-
    My deepest sympathy to you and your very nice family in the loss of your mother. Thank You for Sharing the walk down memory lane. I really enjoy your blog.So sorry for your loss.
    Karyl

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  19. Dear Angela, what a lovely tribute to your lovely mom - I feel as if I know her, from all the beautiful photos and stories.

    I had always hoped I would have met her, over the years (I enjoyed seeing all the treasures and great finds that she came up with, so remarkable!) I pray that all the wonderful memories will bring you some comfort at this time. Sending you hugs,
    Joanie, Keith & Nick

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  20. Thank you for sharing all your wonderful photos and memories of time spent with your Mom. I think this is the first time I've seen a photo of your Mom - you do look a lot like her. ☺

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  21. Dear Angela,

    I'm so sorry to learn about your mother's passing. May God bless you and your family during this time of loss!

    Thank you for sharing wonderful memories of your mother.

    Thinking of you,

    Darlene

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  22. I am so sorry to hear of your mother's passing. I can tell from the pictures that her family mean the world to her and she was dearly loved by all of you. Keep all those wonderful memories close to your heart. Sending hugs.

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  23. Angela, please accept my condolences for your mom. What a lovely tribute you have given her. I can now see where your love for tea came from and I am so happy that you had so many tea parties together. I know you will cherish those times. It is so hard to love our loved ones. I pray for peace for your family.

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