 |
| Grandma Cissie Playing Wii Golf with Damon |
 |
| Grandma Cissie and Heather at Carleton College Dacie Moses House |
She was always up for a new experience, a new friend, a new place. Mom never tired of learning, of playing, of traveling, or engaging in the beautiful experiences that life with special people involves. She always had a zest for life, what the French call a joie de vivre. Married at barely 21, and a mother of 4 by age 27, she spent her young adulthood being a wonderful mom and supportive Army wife---living overseas and reveling in the nomadic life it brought. She loved reminding us that she had 4 kids all 7 or under living in a hotel in a small French town in August 1961, while Dad (then-Major Campbell) was busy dealing with the crisis of the USSR's building the Berlin Wall. Those 4 years in Europe were followed with stints in Washington, Kansas, a year solo while Dad was in Southeast Asia, and a final retirement move to Albuquerque. As we grew up, she never missed a school performance, a parent-teacher conference, an athletic match, or a trip wherever any one of us kids happened to be living. She loved hosting parties for every birthday, Christmas, 4th of July, high school reunion, and Thanksgiving---planning them for weeks in advance. When grandchildren and a great grandson came along, she was always the grandma to care for them, even for days at a time. At age 77, she was an active golfer, community volunteer, wife, mom, grandma, and great grandma. She travelled extensively. You can't imagine our shock, two years ago tonight, when we learned that she had died unexpectedly while on vacation in Arizona. It was devastating for all of us. There's not a day that goes by that I don't think of her and remember the wonderful times we spent together, and the lessons of life and service she taught me. Thanks, Mom. I love you.
May you rest in peace.
No comments:
Post a Comment