When I adopted Darlene, Mom had an argument with a few of her church friends over the dangers of Pit Bulls. She had a shirt made with Darlene's photo and the saying: "My Grand-daughter is a Pit Bull". 
When Dad passed, 10 years before, my husband built an apt. on our home so Mom could live with us. Not because she needed care, but because we couldn't keep track of her, with all her travel, classes, and p/t job. At 85 she worked in the library because she didn't want to be "old and bored".
I had a wonderful childhood. Mom raised 5 kids. She knitted, baked, decorated for every holiday, sewed, owned a Bridal Shop, bought me a horse at 16, and made sure we visited every continental state at least once.
Of course, I turned out the best, as the youngest.
She always said she was going to write a book called, "My Damn Kids" but my chapter would be the shortest.
Ironically, 2 days before she had her first stroke, she was at the gym, in a Senior Aerobics Class.
When she had her first stroke, my son was the dispatcher at the FD and within 4 minutes we had 18 rescue personnel at my home. The second stroke came a few days later while she was in rehab and she never recovered.
Helen was 87 when she passed over, but she didn't look a day over 65.
Please take a moment to look up to the heavens and tell her you met me on a dog forum. It will make her smile.
Thank you, my friends.
Joyce
WE'RE TAKING GOOD CARE OF JOYCIE DOWN HERE. AND TRUST ME, HER CHAPTER IN THE BOOK WOULD BE THE LONGEST ONE NOW!!!
... one of those people being your daughter Joyce
