The Original Ms Willful

My Mother, the original Ms Willful.

She was beautiful, smart, kind, sometimes just plain mean.  But she knew who she was.  She made the best of every situation.

My mother was a guardian ad litem.  She loved children.  She could control an entire room of toddlers.  Just by whispering. 

One time when she was, as guardian, representing a teen in court, she challenged a judge and both attorneys.  One parent was trying to do the right thing for the teen, but was homeless.  The other parent was not trying at all.  My mother knew the right place for the teen was with a grandparent, who lived in another state.  My mother purposely turned in the teen for truancy so the school district could have some say in the matter.  The teen was ultimately allowed to live with the grandparent in another state.  In court, the judge called out my mother for her actions but could do nothing.  Afterwards, privately, he praised my mother for doing what was right for the teen.

I learned from the best.  Be willful.  Do what is right, always.  Be kind,  Sometimes you have to be mean.  It's ok to get mad.  Don't get revenge, let God handle that.

My mother died too young.  While cancer is bad, sometimes the cure is worse.  The doctors told her she could live a few months or use the cure and live a few more years.  But the consequences of the cure very likely would be another form of cancer.  She took the risk and lived another 7 wonderful years.  The second cancer killed her in 4 months.  We wore pink to her funeral.  And I've never been back to her grave.  She isn't there.  She's in me, my brother, and my 2 sisters.  My son has her hazel eyes, that I have the privilege of looking into quite frequently. 

In honor of my mother, I recognize another Ms Wilfull.  She handmakes gorgeous tumblers.  Check out her page, Kelly's Creations.  Three years ago, Kelly defeated her cancer.  Long live another Ms Willful!

Until next time,

Ms W