In The Moment......

How many times have you done something "in the moment" and then later looked back and thought, "what the heck was I doing?" I know I've done it far too many times to count.

Today, my friend at work was sharing about a lady who has two brain tumors. Of course this brought up a discussion about my mom. There's very little I can tell you about those traumatic days that has any humor to it....but today I shared a humorous "moment" with her and thought you might get a kick out of it too.

Let me back up first. I don't know how many of you who read my blogs knew my mom. She was a refined lady. I don't mean "snooty" if that's what you're thinking. More like...classic. She never left the house without being "put together". Right before I got married I remember her telling me to "get up every day, get yourself dressed, makeup, hair, the works. If you don't make yourself worth coming home to, Doug will find somebody else who will". I've never forgotten that ! LOL In my lifetime, I can count maybe 15 times I didn't see my mom get up and get herself made for the day. And most of those times she was sick or recovering from surgery.

She would come up to the hospital shortly after I had given birth and after visiting, hugging and cooing over the baby for a while, she would look at me and say, "do you want to put on a little makeup?" haha Somehow I would appease her with at least putting on ome lipstick. =) She seemed to think that makeup makes you feel better..or at the least...makes you look better =)

Over the years our family has talked alot aobut funerals, deaths, etc..Probably because we attended so many with dad being a Pastor. We talked about what we did and didn't like. Since mom's death happened so quickly, we basically walked around in a blur the first 48 hours, trying to put her funeral together. Mom had said for years "I don't want an open casket". I don't think in her wildest dreams did she ever think she would die young. In fact, my grandma (her mom) is still alive. She always said, "I don't want people coming to look at me after I've been sick. I won't even look like myself and everyone will come by and just gawk". We took this into consieration but because of the suddenness of her death, dad decided on the night we went to the viewing that he was going to have an open casket. He felt this would help bring closure for people. Besides, she looked just like herself. They did an amazing job. The grandkids kept saying, "it just looks like she's asleep". There had been no suffering..no long endured sickness.

After coming into the funeral home, crying and consoling one another, we all began to relax a little. When I realized dad was going to have an open casket, I stepped closer to get a good look at mom. They did a great job...but it looked like there was just a little something missing. I kept staring at her and finally said, "I think she needs more mascara." Before I knew it, I was standing at the head of her casket (I wanted to get a good angle) and I bent over and started applying mascara. Now even though mom was a good teacher, and I've had alot of practice, THIS was a little different. I soooo didn't want to get any on her cheeks. What if I did...how would I get it off ? I am applying it VERY "gingerly" to say the least. As I'm fixated on my job, my younger sis' walks over and says, "I think she needs some eye liner. She doesn't have any on." Sooo...she joins me. I'm applying mascara, she's applying eyeliner. And you guessed it, older sis' came over and said, "She needs more lipstick" and whipped out a tube and started applying. Three girls, leaned over our moms casket, diligently applying makeup to her face. We were "In the Moment"....oblivious to the rest of the world. It was only as my cousin came up, laughing and crying and said, "you guys are cracking me up...I can't believe you are putting makeup on your mom" that we snapped back to reality and realized we must look like we have lost our mind.

My first thought & response was, "do you KNOW my mom ? If we let her go to her funeral without her makeup being right and looking her best....we will be haunted from heaven the rest of our lives." =) I truly believe that ! haha We were trained right !! lol

I've had alot of "In The Moments" over my lifetime. They've come and gone....but I will always remember "this moment"...when humor came up and grabbed me by the collar when I least expected it and for just a moment, made me smile. =)