Who or What am I?

Lately, I've been doing a lot of thinking about some of the titles I've held throughout my life. Think I will list some, if not most, of them here and now.

I came into the world as daughter, sister, niece, cousin, and grand-daughter. Progressively, I became nuisance, cow milker, tree climber, horse rider, swimmer, and then - oh horrors, a teen-ager! Suddenly, I found myself as soda jerk, baby sitter, softball pitcher, basketball player, aunt, receptionist, file clerk, and then, and then, wife, daughter-in-law, and sister-in-law!

Soon, I became a secretary, then bookkeeper and joy of joys, mother, as well as world traveler. New titles became Mom, (distraught and grieving mother at loss of second-born son), Mommy, and again distraught and grieving mother at loss of only daughter. My favorite title as mother was Muv, but once again I became a totally grief-stricken mother at the needless death of my 4th son at the hands of a drunk driver!

Next, I received two titles - divorcee and single parent! Became independent and only wage earner, manager, self-employed, baseball mom, football mom, band booster, cab driver, cook (oh my, the many young'uns for whom I cooked!), "you don't understand person," and once again, wife as well as step mom! My life took a sudden turn when once again I became a divorcee, single parent, and cross-country truck driver! Where that came from, just don't ask!

Once kids became self-sufficent, I took on the title of administrative assistant - but must note herein, never gave up my self-employment opportunities as bookkeeper! And wonderfully, I became grand-mother.

My soul mate came into my life, and once again I became wife, daughter-in-law, and sister-in-law! One day, I found myself as an undergraduate student at a full-fledged and accredited university, exchange student, reporter on life in Amsterdam, friend to hundreds of students from all over the world who thought I should be learning basket weaving instead of attending university in my late 50s.!

Soon, I became property owner, part-time receptionist, full-time self employed, great-aunt, great-grandmother, and widow!

As I take a gander over my shoulder at all the things I've done, all the wonderful people I've met and came to know, the memorable places I've visited, the joys and sorrows encountered, and the tastes and smells of foods from all over the world (some of which you wouldn't have found me putting in my mouth EVER!), I truly believe I've had about as much pleasure and cried as many tears as any one person could expect to have in one lifetime.

Regrets? Not really, because from each mistake and/or tragedy, I learned valuable lessons and became a much stronger person! Would I want to do it all over again? At one time, I thought maybe I would, but sanity returned immediately! The past cannot be changed or altered in any way - if I didn't learn from the past, I've been a failure! If I've learned, I may not be a magnificent success, but I faced the world with bravado and said, "Come on, give me your best shot, I can take it!"

Who am I? Gram, good friend, neighbor, mother, and I'm me the best way I know how to be.

What am I? Honest, truthful, kind, sentimental, caring, and widow! Widow doesn't describe who I am, it is merely another definition of what I am!

For some reason I felt the need to post this today - I believe it was to help me more than anyone else! Mickey Finn is through now!