Mom taught me to sing. It didn't matter that neither of us had a good voice. “Singing will sweep the troubles from your mind and bring peace to your soul,” she would croon. So whistling to greet the day, harmonizing in the car and yodeling while tending to the housework were all part of the day with mom. Singing aside, she would warn me that, when dealing with the opposite sex, NEVER let a boy put his hand on your knee.
When you are married, she would advise, clean yourself up before your husband gets home from work. Make him happy to come home. Always walk with your head held high so that people will not think you are ashamed of yourself. All these pearls of wisdom stay with me to this day. Mom wakes up grumpy these days. She often won't let her caregivers get her out of bed. The husband and love of her life is gone. She does not recognize me. She has Alzheimer's. Now we have reversed roles and I begin to sing softly to her and she begins to smile. It's not long before we fill the room with our boisterous duet. Her spirits are lifted and mine are, too. I love you mom.
