A Very Special Woman

I’d like to introduce you to one of the most wonderful women I have ever known.

Born on a summer day during World War II, she would grow up the second child and oldest daughter of four kids, and she learned to care for her younger brother and sister as a teenager. Her working-class parents weren't wealthy, but not having the world given to her on a silver platter taught her to work hard and to appreciate the things you work for.

She attended high school in western Washington State, and after graduating in 1961 she got a job at the Seattle World's Fair. In the summer of 1962, she began work at a drive-in movie theater, and it was there she met and fell in love with a young dreamer. The two of them were married that fall.

Between 1963 and 1969 they had three children, two boys and a girl. During those years, she faithfully followed her husband up and down the west coast of the US, as he searched for a way to provide for their family. They had some good times and some bad times, as all married couples do. Sadly, they divorced after almost 11 years of marriage, and in 1973 she found herself a single mother of three young children, hundreds of miles from her closest relatives. She had no career, and although she had taken odd jobs during her marriage, most of her time and energy had been spent being a full-time mother and wife, and she needed to find a way to hold her family together.

This amazing woman struggled with doubt, fear, pain and loneliness, but she made sure her children never felt they were anything but a blessing in her life. She brought her small family back to Washington State to be closer to her parents, and while somehow making their meager allotment of food stamps stretch each week, she went back to school. By taking classes at a local community college, she acquired skills which would enable her to provide her family with a good life.

They were never rich, and Hamburger-Helper was on the menu a lot more often than steak, but they never went hungry - and they had something that a lot of people never know: a warm home, full of love and laughter. There was always room for at least one pet, punishments were done more by looks of disappointment than anything else, and their family enjoyed far more happy times than sad ones.

From the moment she became a mother, even during all of the challenges life threw at her, she gave her children some priceless gifts. A passion for books and reading was basic to her nature, and story time was always important. This fascination and desire for words and ideas became a deep-rooted part of her children's souls and laid the groundwork for giving them a love of learning... and she was their first and very best teacher. Her pride in their accomplishments, coupled with high expectations for progress, gave them a strong sense of self-worth, and her examples of hard work, commitment and perseverance forged deep within them an inner strength which would allow them to become the best people they could be. Her love for her family was always so strong and constant they never for a minute doubted her, or their places in her heart. This gave them the security and faith to be able to give love to others.

While she never did remarry, she never let the fierce love in her heart wither. Over the years as her children grew, she opened her heart, and often her home, to many of their friends as well. These extra kids all ended up calling her Mom, and she helped to shape their lives and personalities as well. She was always ready to come to the rescue if any of them needed her, and all of them still respect and love her.

Who was she? Her name was Audine Grein, but I always knew her as Mom. I am truly blessed to be her son. Compared to many of my friends growing up, I always had a very unique relationship with Mom. We never really fought or argued, and I cannot remember a time in my life when I had anything but respect and love for her. I'm sure I tried her patience over the years, especially when I was a brilliant teenager who knew everything, but she was always my rock, my hero, my inspiration, and my friend.

She gave me just enough space to be myself, and just enough guidance to keep me from disaster. Though I may not have told her often enough, I was always extremely proud of her, and everything that she achieved.

In 1985, my wife and I had our first child, and since Mom was just 42, she informed us she was way too young to be a grandma. Since her mother was still using the title anyway, Mom became Nanny.

For over thirty years she was Nanny to grandkids and great-grandkids alike. I owe this amazing woman so much more than I can say... and she never expected anything more than love in return.

She taught me to read before I was 5, and it's her fault my bathroom doubles as a library. When you potty-train a young child by putting a book in their hands, you may just create a lifelong habit. She is also responsible for my vocabulary. She had a knowledge of the English language I have yet to find an equal to, and I guarantee there is no prouder memory in my mind than the first time I actually won a game of Scrabble against my mother, the word-master.

She taught me to drive, to budget, to cook -- and that mothers really do have ESP when it comes to knowing the truth, so you might as well just be honest with them. She taught me to love myself and others, and more importantly, she taught me as long as you believe in yourself, it doesn't matter what the world says or thinks about you - the only limits you have, are the ones you set for yourself.

As I watch my own branch of our family tree grow, I am reminded just how blessed we are to have had her in our lives, our hearts, and our souls, not to mention most of our DNA.

Regardless of whether she was Mom, Nanny, or Great-Grandma, she was always a pillar of strength, a light in the darkness, a warm hug when the world was cold, the absolute best place to turn when you needed to know the answer to just about any question.

Hers is still the face and voice that deep inside I long for when I get a scrape on my knee, or in my heart.

I love you Mom. That's always and forever.

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