[redwitch]

Chels, you were quite a remarkable young lady. Not many could or would have sacrified something they wanted as badly as you must have wanted that party. You do the memory of your parents proud. Thank you for sharing that with us.

I don't know what sacrifices my parents made while Dad was alive. Things were not big around our home -- we knew we'd be moving in a very short while so it just didn't pay to have a lot of stuff. I do know it was very hard for my mother after his death. My grandmother had convinced Dad that Mom was young and healthy, so she should get all the insurance money and anything else she could get in the way of military and civilian benefits. So, Mom did the best she could and gave up a lot of the things a woman loves to have (cologne if no perfume, the pretty underwear, the new blouse, etc.) so that I could have THE dress for school, go on a field trip, whatever she could afford to give me.

I started babysitting shortly after dad died. As soon as I could, I got an after-school job. I understood that the only way I was going to college was on a full scholarship, so I made sure I jumped through the necessary hoops to get it. Through it all, my mom was my cheerleader. I know it hurt her that she couldn't help me the way she wanted but she was always there for me -- even if it meant losing her job to be at my junior high school graduation.

So, I guess I always understood the financial sacrifices she made but I never understood the emotional sacrifices until now. I just never thought about them. Thank you for opening my eyes. Chels, I truly owe you.