Pearls of Wisdom and Foolish Mutterings

My Other Mom

KATHLEEN PHIFER


My step-mom passed away this morning at about 12:45. She and my dad were married for 45+ years. I'm not sure of the exact number of years because I didn't get to spend any time with them as I was growing up. I was a baby when my mom and dad divorced and I didn't meet my dad until I was thirty. That's when I met Kathy, too. And I loved her instantly. She was FUN. There was never a dull moment when she was around. As quiet and reserved as my dad is, Kathy was that outgoing and exuberant.

I always called her Kathy, but the longer I knew her, the more she was a mom to me. Funny thing, this morning when my dad called at about 1:30 to tell me she was gone, when I hung up the phone, I told my husband, "That was Dad. Mom's gone."

She was an incredible woman and I will miss her strength, her vitality, her capricious nature and most of all, her joie de vivre. She had a car accident years ago, long before I knew her, that caused her to lose one of her legs just below the knee. She never let it slow her down, but almost two years ago, she fell and broke her hip. She never was able to walk again after that and absolutely hated being confined to a wheelchair. My husband told me this morning not to be sad because he just knew Kathy was up in heaven "hopscotching around and trying on shoes." I think he's right. Trying on shoes... I like that. She's probably hopscotching in red high heels.