Mom's Birthday — 78 Cups

A year ago today we launched this blog as a tribute to our Mom. A place where we could have conversations about her and have the ones that we wished we could still have with her. There have been a wide variety of topics covered from the love of music to dealing with depression. But like our mother’s kitchen table, this blog has become an haven for our thoughts. And with almost 1500 unique visitors and 5000 page visits, we have reached more people than we could have imagined. We have heard from people from many facets of our life and it has been an amazing means of reconnecting with things that are important to us.

So thank you to all of you that have read and contributed to this blog for us. We have had many laughs, a few tears but more importantly we have been reminded of a lot of great memories. So, to mark our 1 year anniversary of 78Cups of Tea, we thought we would focus more on the woman that inspired it – Katherine Mae. We will share stories and memories from some of her friends.

We recently asked people to send us some of their memories. Some sent notes, pictures or just funny memories. We are also going to share some previous notes that we received about Mom. I think it is safe to say that you will see a theme, it was her willingness to share her love. She was generous, whether it was with her time or her baked goods. You will see this in the memories shared.

One of my cousins remembers eating Mom’s butter tarts. These things were good! I mean when my cousin and I were around, there were hardly any left by the time my Dad got home. She never really minded that the disappeared so quickly even if Dad did. In a way, it was part of how she gave her love. She felt joy in making a favourite treat and the delight it brought to those who enjoyed it. One comment from a friend that used to diet A LOT with our Mother was “They would never last long because she was always making goodies! … we would do our exercise and then have tea with whatever goodies she had prepared that day.”

Mom was not only remembered by her friends and family but by the children on the street as well. One recounted that his memory was of “eating your mom's chocolate chip muffins. They were delicious... and not just because baked goods at our house were bought at the grocery store.” Another said “Great woman, kept my hair looking great for years and had an endless pot of tea!”

One of Mom’s dearest friends had some funny memories of our Mother to share. She said my memories are the laughs shared while enduring the tomato soup diet, making crab apple jelly, “taking in the sun” on the patio deck in May when it was still cold and of course exercising to mickey mouse in the basement. She was usually one to give anything a go at least once, even “mousercize”.

Aside from the laughs though, Mom was there for her friends. Our family’s closest neighbor and friend remembers, “She was a dedicated, loyal, hard worker and a good friend to so many. Your family door was always open and everyone knew that if you really needed something as simple as a chat over a cup of tea, Kathy was there. I can still see you Doreen and your mom sitting at the table the night of my son, Derrick’s accident. As soon as I walked through the back door and told you something had happened, Kathy sprang into action and started giving Doreen orders. She drove down to the hospital with me and told you to follow; I always wondered why she told you to follow in the car. She sensed something was bad! When we came to the lights at the corner close to the hospital, I told her I knew something bad had happened to Derrick more than just a broken bone and she told me not to go there, we would face whatever head on and deal with it together! Kathy was always ready to help me face whatever! Little did we know we would lose my son and it would be one of the biggest challenges of my life.”

Katherine Mae was the type of women who experienced a lot of pain and helped others with their pain as well. She has a means of putting you at ease. “She had a beautiful grin of a smile and the greatest giggle. We shared many a good laughs, good vents and a lot of good cries. Kathy was always there for me and my family and she knew I was there for her and her family. She always gave 100 % to whatever she was doing, no slacking from Kathy, she took things on that most people would have run from. She faced many challenges but she never complained and always faced them head on. Her family was the most important thing to her!”

We also had a note from a friend we have seen here at 78Cups before, a dear family friend, Debby. “As we approach Katherine Mae’s birthday, I am in awe that she would be 68 years old this year, the same age my mom was when she passed away. To remember Kathy in just one memory is impossible. She was such a lovely gentle soul with unconditional friendship and endless cups of tea”.

Debby went on to say “the most precious gifts she gave us are her two beautiful daughters, Debbie and Doreen. Like their mom they have the ability to connect to people through kindness and empathy. You raised them well Katherine Mae. You do live on through them. I miss you. I love you and I am so proud to have been able to call you my dear friend. Happy heavenly birthday”.

So as we celebrate the life of a woman that we loved and treasured, please remember the importance of kindness like that found in our Mother. Find someone to be kind to today, it could make a difference far greater than you can imagine.