Old Retired Guy Blog
April 19, 2009
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Mother-in-LawI Googled Mother-in-law. I got 38 million hits. The first one was "Mother-In-Law Stories and Mother-In-Law Jokes." I guess that's not too surprising. Mothers-in-law have been the favorite topic of jokes ever since, well, not since Adam and Eve, Adam didn't have a mother-in-law, but certainly ever since Eve became one. (Don't ask me who her son-in-law was.) I had a wonderful mother-in-law. Her name was Elsie Leuker. I sometimes teased her about being my mother-in-law, but she always took it in good fun, which is how I intended it. She loved her family more than anything else except her God. I never left her house hungry or wondered if there was a pecan kringle on the table. I remember her excitement when Kathy and I told her about our engagement and her joy when our sons were born. I remember Tupperware, ceramics and quilts. I remember hugs that squeezed the air right out of me. I always admired that her happiness was derived from the simple things in life -- her flowers, a cool summer breeze off the lake, a backyard cookout, a vacation on Washington Island.
I had a mother-in-law for 38 years. She passed away on Easter Sunday, a wonderfully symbolic day for this deeply religious woman. Her five children are, understandably, saddened by their loss. So am I. But, I know that time will eventually pave over most of the sorrow with fond memories. Rest in peace, Elsie. End of 'Mother-in-Law' Entry |
