June 18 was my birthday, and I received a great gift, a wonderful gift. Growing up my mom would buy from a local potato chip company called Moyers. Because they were a small manufacturer there would be burned chips in the bag. My mom and I would seek these out as a hidden treasure of taste.
My mom died when I was 22, I turned 63 on June 18. She was in intensive care for two years because of a brain aneurysm, I cannot image a worse way to die. It was the most difficult time in my life and being a 20-year-old just starting college I didn’t handle it well. My brother and I never felt unloved, she was fiercely devoted to her sons. She never missed a baseball game or a wrestling match. She always had a smile and was quick with a joke.
We didn’t have much as far as possessions, but we always had a home cooked meal every night and family laughter. Without droning on my mom made life better, she sacrificed anything she ever wanted and gave it to my brother Dave and me.
On my Birthday while watching something forgettable on TV, I grabbed a handful of potato chips and started a mid-day snack. In the handful of perfect golden potato chips was one burnt one. I smiled and looked to heaven, where I know my mother is and said thank you and I love you. I do wish I would have said I love you and thank you more often for evereything while she was alive.
Mike Settino 