Just about a week and a half ago, my mother was in the beginning stages of a stroke. That wouldn't have been her first stroke. It would have been her third... this is how we were able to recognize it and act on it immediately... cuz we've been there, done that. My father rushed her to the ER and they brought her blood pressure down to a manageable level. We are all very grateful that she has been spared on so many occasions.

Here's where it gets interesting. I think she brings all this stress and excitement on herself. I truly do. I would hate to blab about her on here so I won't.

However, this evening I posed this question to her; I said, "Mom, what makes you happy?"

The evening news ran in the background as all the voices in the room fell silent.

My father added, "Would a million dollars make you happy?"

By now, I'm thinking that maybe this conversation is too exciteable for her. To my father, she said, "No."

Then I asked the question again, "What would make you happy?"

The woman had a tough time answering me but she sputtered, she stuttered then said, "Crocheting, gardening..." and that was it. That's all she said.

I told her, "Mom, that's what you should be doing."

She said, "I can't do that! What about all the other things I have to do?"

"Like what?"

"Like the laundry," she said.

"Leave it. Let me take care of it," I told her.

Still... with unbelief... as if to say that she is the only one that can do her laundry... she told me no. And this is the legacy of my mother... at least this is what it is as I write....

That happiness is for another day, on another occasion but just not today.