Anonymous
Thank you all who sent messages to our family during this difficult time. My stepfather, Papa Cleg was a wonderful husband to my mom and never stopped his undying love and nurturing for her, particularly during her final years of illness. For that, we are all eternally grateful and thankful.
My mom was definitely one of a kind - full of love and full of talent - in her poetry and decorating. There are a few things about here that stand out about my mom ? she always made our summers full of fun, our Christmas? full of joy ? our birthdays our ?special days? and Easters a mark for a new beginning. Once in a while, she?d pull out a box full of musical instruments ? give one to each of the 6 children and sing, play and laugh with us. Of course there were the embarrassing times, she take us to Mexican food restaurants and sing the entire time with the musicians in Spanish. While we would hide under the table so as not to be seen, I would be honored today to hear her sing again. Of all the dear things she was, the biggest thing she bestowed to me was the wisdom and understanding that through life's struggles there were tools and lessons for us all. She was a deeply spiritual woman who always supported my individual ideas and spirituality and always encouraged me to listen to my soul and follow its messages. She once sent me this poem during one of the struggles in my life that I will forever keep, read, and share:
Isn't it strange that princes and kings,
And clowns that caper in sawdust rings,
And common people like you and me
Are builders for eternity?
Each is given a bag of tools,
A shapeless mass, a book of rules;
And each must make.. ere life is flown
A stumbling block, or a stepping stone.
-- R. L. Sharpe, "A Bag of Tools"
Rest in Peace, my lovely Mother and teacher. You will be forever in my heart?.because I am a part of you.
Suzanne Elaine Bell Batchelor daughter##imported-begin##Suzanne Batchelor##imported-end##