Red is my mom’s color. I’m not sure if she chose it , or if it chose her. Either way, it was hers.
It didn’t pervade every nook and cranny of her life. It accented and enhanced. It popped and surprised.
It was the color of her bridesmaids’ dresses 51 years ago. It’s the color of her couch in the guest room. It’s the color of her favorite blazer – the one that now hangs in my closet. Red was the roses in the garden in NY and the poppies on the wall in FL.
I can’t see a vibrant red without thinking of my mom. She was red. Alive, vibrant, bursting with life and energy. Even as cancer sucked her life away, she lived fully.  We celebrated her life with red streamers and party blowers and tie-dyed poster board and nurse-contributed prune juice and balloons a few days before the color drained from her face and she breathed in one last constricted lungful of air.
I will remember that last breath. More than that, I will remember a life well lived and a daughter of the Most High who embraced whatever and whoever came her way. I will see red with its pulsating call to life and remember my mother who lived it well.
11 responses to “RED”
Hello, I found your post on Five minute Friday. It’s a beautiful post! Your mother sounds like she was a wonderful woman. Thanks for sharing!
Micalagh
Wow. This is beautiful. I see her vibrant spirit in you, sweet friend. Hugs from down the road.
Love this! I’m visiting from FMF. My Mom’s favorite color was Red too…and they sound like kindred spirits…now they are communing at the feet of the King.
Beautiful, Sheryl!
Beautiful, Sheryl!
sob, sob — and I never even met your mother in person. but i have met you!!
Oh, Sheryl…you need to do more writing…this is LoVELY
and your mother would rejoice that you are thinking of her and writing such sweet words!
Love you! Donna Jeanne
Sheryl,
That was the sweetest message about your sweetest mother. Honey you are going to be just like her. As they say, The Apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, and did you notice… Apples are Red 🙂 Love you tons and tons, Anita and all the Texas Gang
Wow, so beautiful. What a way to honor your mama with these beautiful words.
How very true!! I love these words. Mom O was definitely red. Turned people’s faces red too at times, either from laughter or from embarassment.
‘ugs.
Soul
Wow! Thank you so much for such a positive response! I’m a little overwhelmed. I took a computer-free weekend and came back to such a great response.
Thanks for affirmation that you see her in me. There was a time (long ago) I would’ve fought that, but today I embrace it. Thank you.