My mother died Aug 2, 1996. Throughout that first year, I "prepared" myself (as best you can) for all the "firsts" -- 1st Thanksgiving, 1st Christmas, etc to be celebrated without the wonderful mother I had been blessed with. But somehow I forgot one celebration -- Mother's Day. That was the most miserable period that first year. I can tell you one thing -- I DO NOT like being at the top of the Mother Chain! It was probably 3 years before I could bear to go near a greeting card rack that displayed Mother's Day Cards.

I had to force myself to try to enjoy the day for my own children -- but it was difficult. It brought new knowledge of grief -- and how intensely private and personal it is. For the first time I understood the grief and loss my Mother had suffered after the death of her own mother.

Gwinny