MEMORIES OF MAMA

             by Emily M. Parris
             Written 10/5/92

Memories of Mama
Are alive and living still
Tho' she's gone, she is not forgotten
Memories live and they always will

Fresh dresses laid out for me
And breakfast - cocoa and toast
She knew that was the breakfast
That I liked the most

Lunch money tied in a handkerchief
Ready for me each day
Words of sweet encouragement
As I went on my way

I had a special dress I loved
With embroidery all around
A matching one for my favorite doll
Was the treasure I had found

At the time I took it for granted
Thinking everyone had such things
But now the memory of her sewing
Is a memory that sings

For love was there in the stitches
In each and every line
Embroidered on the dresses
That became so sweetly mine

Mom was a room mother at my school
She brought cookies, brownies and cake
Anything that they needed
She was always ready to make

Special cupcakes for Halloween
Red ones for Valentine's Day
Whenever a special occasion came
They were always on the way

She led a group of Camp Fire Girls
Where my friends were there with me
We didn't do much camping
But had lots of activity

We worked on projects out of felt
Sang songs, and earned our beads
Some of my strongest friendships
Came from those Camp Fire deeds

I took dancing classes on Saturday
Ballet, tap dancing and jazz
Mom always lent encouragement
And her costumes had pizazz

In the "Dancing Classes Mother's Club"
They planned what we would wear
In our dancing class recitals
She was always there to share

Mother sewed quilts to treasure
With loving stitches so sweet
Mom was one of the greatest mothers
That you could ever meet


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Copyright 10/5/92 by Emily M. Parris
Inspired by "Gone But Not Forgotten" by Billy Dean
Note: The beads we got in Camp Fire Girls were earned by
      doing special projects. Once we completed the
      project we got the bead which we could then sew
      onto our Camp Fire vest.