Weekly Feature: Hidden Gems

Today's Hidden Gem: Mom

As you've seen all week, I've used 'Swing by and Spray' as more of a 'catching up with Danielle' forum as well as a way to gracefully glide back into the work mode after being off for so long.

Believe it or not, this has been quite a transition.

Not only am I trying to adjust to not having my Mother and best friend physically here with me anymore but I have been out of work longer than ever before.

I needed to come back to work.

It's just like riding a bike or re-connecting with a terrific friend. I picked up right where I left off.

Now, for making Mom my Hidden Gem, there is no way in God's green earth that I can include every wonderful thing about her or do her justice!! But, I'll give you all a little snippet and glimpse into her greatness.

Mom was a stupendous human being.

She had the biggest fan club around, even more expanse than the Cleveland Browns and their world-wide Browns Backers.

Not sure what one particular attribute drew people to her, but they were drawn.

While dining at one of her favorite restaurants on Larchmere, she caught the attention of Gary Sandy, actor from 'WKRP in Cincinnati.' He was in town doing a play, and in Mom fashion, caught his eye, he was drawn to her and well .....Mom had this effect on EVERYONE!!

She ran our church for the longest time being the 2nd in command after our pastor. Even in her final days, Father would call Mom asking her for code #'s or account #'s, the name of someone he could not remember, or a little background on a longtime parishioner who had passed away.

She sat in the same pew in Church, and believe it or not, NO ONE sat in that spot during her funeral.

Next to her faith and devotion to her Lord, her family and her Cleveland Indians were her life.

She was so proud of her children and grand children. She loved them more than anything. When the kids were smaller, Mom would take us all globetrotting following our Cleveland Indians. Mom really opened up the world for us all. She taught us to respect life and everyone we met. She ingrained in us to enjoy each day as if it was the last and to reach for the skies. She had a tremendous work ethic allowing us to not only have what we needed but what we wanted. She told us all 'you can do anything and be whatever you want to be.' Mom familiarized us to all kinds of music, movies, entertainment, sports and so much more.

We were always on some kind of adventure traveling around to Boston, Detroit, Canada, Baltimore, Florida, Vegas, Arizona, Kansas City, New Orleans, Texas, and so on.....

Mom's energy spurred the rest of us on. We were trying to keep up with her on the Freedom Trail! Finally my Aunt hailed a cab and said, enough!

I remember Mom sitting in 'A Steak in the Neighborhood' in Boston with Indians' Pitcher Jack Morris as they pondered whether or not he should retire. I believe he retired the next season.

I hope one day Mom's fearlessness rubs off on me. She was not afraid of anyone or anything.

Mom would never miss an Indians' Game. Then her health suffered a bit, but we still made the trek to Jacob's Field. It may have taken longer, but was well worth it. Her Usher, Bob, would escort her to our seats and just about whisk her back up all the stairs at the end of the game.

And her health ailments did not stop us from taking our trips. Last year we made it to the final season of old Yankee Stadium, and this year we hit PNC Park.

Mom's 'home away from home' was the Terrace Club at Progressive Field. She'd walk in and they'd escort her to a terrific table. Two weeks before she passed, I had a blow out 80th birthday party for her there. It was one of the best things I could have ever done for her. Family and friends gathered to celebrate her life with her while she was still vibrant and alive and able to enjoy their company.

Mom always thought of someone else. When the WNBA came to Cleveland, knowing my niece's affinity to basketball, she was 1st in line to get Rockers' Season Tickets and had Center Court.

She shopped for Christmas all year long. She'd see the perfect gift for someone in March and buy it! Suffice it to say, we had SO MANY Christmas gifts, we had to start wrapping them weeks in advance!

Even toward the end, Mom never lost her passion for living. We'd be driving somewhere listening to Siriusly Sinatra and she'd be singing along to Frank or Tony or Dino at the top of her lungs not skipping a beat!

She brought her dialysis ward to it's knees laughing when she screamed HALLELUJAH after hearing Eric Wedge had been fired! And she was overjoyed when her 'boyfriend' Rick Manning wished her a happy 80th birthday on TV during the final Cleveland Indians' Game.

Mom was a perfect example of someone who loved life and who lived her life the way the Good Lord prescribed, and it came back to her ten-fold.

Oh, I have a bazillion more stories of my Mom. I've only touched the surface.

If you knew her, I'm sure you understand why I have named her this week's Hidden Gem! If you did not know her, I truly hope you can get a sense from this entry on why my Mom has been chosen as this week's Hidden Gem! I love you Mom! No, "I love you more!"