I was sitting here tonight lost in thought and prayer, when the phone rang. It was my Mother. She can't see well enough, and doesn't have the strength to dial the phone now, but a real angel friend of hers who has always been there to help her came in to visit and my Mother asked her to dial my number. Mom's voice was a little garbled at times, because she is on morphine: not th kill the pain, as she has none, but to help her breath. We talked at some lenght, and she told me how much she loves receiving the reminiscences that I am mailing her. She can't read them, but her friend Bess stops in every evening and reads my letters to her, and they have a prayer time. I wanted to make sure that she chad a chance to talk with Ruth, because they were Mother and daughter the moment they met nine years ago. Ruth's Mother had been dead for several years before I met her, but the moment she met Mom, she knew she had a Mother again. And my Mother knew that she had another daughter. Forget the "in-law." Every time we talk to Mom, we realize that it may be the last time, so every minute is precious. Mom may hang in there and stick around a while longer, or she may be gone by morning, as the Hospice nurse thinks. Whatever happens, it was such a blessing, talking with her tonight.

And speaking of blessings, Mudcat has been a wonderful one for me these days. I am especially thankful for my Catter friend who has so kindly encouraged and guided me in writing down my families memories. They have been such a joy to my whole family and I will never forget the gift of encouragement I have received.

We never know with Mom. She may fool everyone and stay a while longer, but she is too weak to feed herself, can't see well enough to read or watch television any more and I believe she has far more joy before her than she has these days.

Mudcat is often maligned for the mean-spiritedness and petty squabbles that sometimes poison the air. But Mudcat has it's beauty, too. I appreciate all of you who are a part of that beauty.

Jerry