Vallaree
All my life, my mother would constantly remind me that she was honored I "chose her" in this lifetime. She claimed that she waited 38 years for her little girl and wasn't gonna stop until she had me.
I'm sure she was a little disappointed when she realized I wasn't gonna be the type of girl to wear feminine dresses, jewelry, or brush my hair before I walked out of the door. Rather I wore my brother's ratty pokemon t-shirts, rarely washed the dirt off my cheeks, and climbed trees barefoot like it was my job.
I remember Mom at her best when our family would visit at our house on Deer Track Lane for days at a time in the summers. Our backyard was big enough to have camp-outs in tents, barbecues during the day, and she adored everyone just being together. Because of her, that house was a home.
While all of us kids would run off to play, Mom was always within 300 feet of us, either in the kitchen cooking up lunch, on her computer painting images of fairies, or reading someone's astrological birth chart so she could warn them of life lessons that they would eventually face. I love every single thing about her. All of her quirks, interests, and ideas. The advice she gave was from the heart, and always the wisest. A woman who would never let anybody down.
I cannot recall how many incidents we had where Daisy, Patrick, or I would run into the house screaming crying from a scraped knee, bee sting, or even a rolled ankle and she would be right there, prepared for whatever bad news we threw at her.
I grew up alongside a remarkably intelligent woman, constantly sharing her wealth of knowledge with anyone willing to learn. When I was about five years old, I told her "Mom, you know how to do EVERYTHING" and she replied with "No, Vallaree, I just don't quit until I figure out how something is done". This lesson has stuck with me since and I believe it is the reason I keep going. Everything I do in life is honestly all for her.
Throughout these past few months, left and right I have been hearing that I'm the strongest person certain people have ever known. I hope everyone in this room understands that I was truly strengthened by this woman. She is undeniably the most courageous human being on the planet.
In the final moments of Mom's life, I was able to hold her hands, look her in the eyes, and thank her for choosing ME. I was able to tell her how proud she made me for fighting for so long, how she is my hero, and how I was grateful to be by her side. As I said this, she gripped my hands tighter, and I knew she wanted to say so much more than she could, and I hope she knows that I know that.
Mom, I promise that I will continue making you proud. I promise I will watch after Christopher, Raymond, Patrick, and Daddy. Everybody is going to be okay.
Thank you for being so unique. Thank you for giving me the strength to fight any obstacle in my way, for showing me how important it is to be independent and driven.
For imbedding an endless curiosity in my mind, a desire to love in my heart, and a strong will to fight in my soul. You are my best friend, my rock, my most beautiful guardian angel.
We will meet again someday.
