A few weeks ago we held a party in the front yard of my folks' home. The reason for the party was the 75th birthday of my mom and dad. Of course, it wasn't her birthday. That was last October, and it wasn't his birthday either, that is this October. It was however, by coincidence or divine intervention, my birthday. I received a gift that day that only in light of this week's events did I realize.
Did you notice the mood my mom was in that day? She was happy, content, she didn't have a care in the world. More than any other party I can remember, she was relaxed. I think she knew that day her Kaiser family wheel was complete. A wheel she started a long time ago with a strong and incredible hub, my dad. He has been and will always remain the hub of the Kaiser family. As each of us came along our spoke was added to the wheel me, Kurt, Karen, Kryston, Kraig. And as we brought people into our lives more spokes were added, none were ever removed: Sharon, Don, Sue, Kelly, Scott, Linda, Deb. As we each began to build our own family wheel she added our spokes to hers...Brendan, Anita, Alicia, Shannon, Bridget, Tyler, Trevor. And even more when Kassie, Kristin and Lauren came along. She taught each of us in turn how important we were to the wheel, how each of us had to be strong and straight if we wanted our wheel to be true. Her glue in making this wheel was love.
Love kept us together. When any kind of adversity hit, she taught us that love will keep us together. So you see the gift I received on my birthday, that we all received, was a diploma from the school of family wheel building as taught with patience, persistence, a firm but kind hand and most importantly, LOVE!...by the master wheel-smith, my mom.Her job is done, but the lessons will continue.
