|
Memories of Our Mother:
Clara Pearl Astle Carling
by Eva Carling Johnston
|
| |
 PREVIOUS 1 2 3 4 5 6 NEXT 
Whenever she was perturbed, "Oh, my gosh!" was said so fast, then it was over as far as I could see.
I loved her as a sister. She told me once when I said I wished I could sew as nice as she did that I lacked confidence in myself, that if I had it, I could do it. Well I tried to have more faith in my ability, but she still did it more beautifully.
She was a no-complaining wife and mother.
- - - - -
Once in a conversation with Aunt Alice, she said to me, "Did you know your mother was nominated for Mother of the Year?" I replied that she had never told us that. Aunt Alice's response was, "Of course she wouldn't. That would be bragging on herself. She represented Providence as Mother of the Year. She didn't win, but it was an honor to be a candidate."
- What Was She Like? -
I remember our mother as being calm and steady, seldom upset at things, just taking things in her stride. She used to enjoy a good laugh and if something struck her funny she laughed all over.
She was not one to talk about herself or her feelings. If we wanted to know something about her we'd have to ask her specifically. When someone came to visit, she'd usually let them do most of the talking.
On one occasion, Aunt Agnes and Uncle Jess Cook and others were visiting together. The chatter had been going on fast and furiously, but not being one to compete for attention, Mom mostly listened. When there was a lull in the conversation Uncle Jess said, “Hey, Pearl!", to which she replied, "What?" He said, "I just wanted to know if you could still talk."
We always knew a secret would be safe with her. She wouldn't even spread our news of an expected new baby to other family members. She maintained that we all had the right to spread our own news. Aunt Margaret once said Pearl was the most tight-lipped woman she ever knew. (We might all do well to follow her example).
- She Was Never Sick -
Our mother had enjoyed excellent health all of her life. It seemed we could count on one hand the times we had ever known her to be sick. That's one reason we were so surprised when she told us that she was going into the Logan LDS Hospital for surgery for an enlarged thyroid (goiter). We were even more shocked when they found cancer during the five hour operation. The doctors felt sure they got it all, but would keep her under close observation. This was February 12, 1968.
They brought Mom home on February 18 only to take Dad into the hospital that same evening suffering from a partial stroke. On February 22, we went to visit the folks and learned that Dad had had another stroke that left him, paralyzed on the left side. Poor Mom! To have this happen when she was still so weak from her surgery. Dad instructed the boys to "break it to her gently." He died two weeks later.
On February 29, Mom had the first of many radium treatments at the University of Utah Medical Center. Ivan took her for the first few treatments. After Dad's death on March 2, she continued the treatments five days a week, taking off one day for the funeral. Mom spent some time with us, and I would drive her to the medical center each day. Later she stayed with Linda and David, and Linda took her for the treatments. We were glad we could spend some time with her while she was getting adjusted to widowhood. When she showed some improvement, she wanted to go back home, but it was hard for her to go knowing that Dad was no longer there.
PREVIOUS 1 2 3 4 5 6 NEXT
|
Print/Save
More Documents
View Pedigree