Woman,Thy Name is Schuler

Today's Tuesday Tribute sponsored by Jay and Deb is all about the women in my life and how they have shaped me and made me who I am.

It begins with Frances, the woman who began this whole dynasty and more fondly known as Grandma P. This woman used to scare the bejesus out of me yet at the same time I just wanted to hug and kiss her. She could get me to do the nastiest chores and make me think it was my idea by the time I was done. Grandma P worked as an assistant in a local drug store for as long as I can remember and people used to ask me how old she was. I really never knew but I would always reply "she has to be under 65 because she is still working." Imagine my surprise when she did eventually quit and she was over 80! She mastered the computer after she was 70, bowled once a week and when she worked late and needed a ride home she hopped on the back of her bosses motorcycle. She was one tough old bird that lived to be 92. She makes you want to be a better person every day of your life.

Next is her daughter, my mother Diane. She inherited all of Grandma P's values of course and lived them every day of her life. She raised a garden, canned, sewed all our clothes, made homemade bread every week , hung the wash out on the line and ironed everything! Then she would dress us kids up and take us to church and Sunday school every week like clock work. She took care of her mother until she passed away then just a few short months later found out she needed surgery. During this surgery, mom suffered a stroke and lost the use of her left arm and partial use of her left leg. She never let it get her down and she wouldn't let us be down either. She says there are people far worse off than her and as long as she still has her mind and can get around that's all that matters. Gotta love someone who takes lemons and makes a pitcher of lemonade then shares it with the entire family.

Then I have my sisters, Natalie, Lisa and Paula- we don't live close enough to see each other on a daily basis but we do manage to get together at least 2-3 times a year. We don't always get along and there a few times we may disagree with each other, but try to hurt one of us and you take on the whole lot of us. We are ONE when it comes to family. We have been known to be a tad bitchy once in a while and proud of it too if you ask us. We all were born with the shopping gene and are proud to say we have passed it down to the next generation of our daughters.

In a round about way this post comes back to be about me (SORRY) because if it weren't for all these women and their being a part of my life (and I Thank God they have been) then I wouldn't be who and what I am today.

Head over to Jay and Deb and read some other tributes or do your own. They're fun.