MAURINE RATHJEN

From the day I was born my mother called me her Long Stem American Beauty Rose. She said that her and daddy would have gone to six to get their girl but it only took four tries to finally get it right. Practice makes perfect!

My mother is the most creative, artistic, talented person I have ever known. In my teen years I became quite jealous of her ability to be successful at anything she put her mind to. As years past and maturity began to overtake me, that jealousy turned into admiration and my mama became my mentor and my best friend. She would always tell me how beautiful I was, inside and out. My only response was, "Mama, I'm just trying to be like you".

My mom and I had a very special bond. There were many times I needed to talk to her and would pick up the phone to call and she would be on the other end. I hadn't even dialed yet and she had already called me. I can't explain this it was just something we had. I may not be able to pick up the phone anymore but I know she will still be there when I need her.

One of the most impressive things I remember my mama doing was during my teen years. Daddy got a bug up his you-know-what and decided to rebuild airplanes. He bought a Cessna 172 which had body damage but the engine was in good shape and somehow found a way to haul it to the house. That airplane sat in our backyard for months while daddy tore it apart, rebuilt every piece and put it back together. Mama's job was the interior. She crawled into that plane and ripped out every piece of seat and headliner. She carefully disassembled the pieces so she could use them as a pattern and remade that interior. When it was finished and all in place you would thought that airplane was brand new. It was blue, one of her favorite colors and it was a sight to behold.

Mama loved her music and taught us all to play the piano. Every night we each had to sit at that piano for one half hour. As the years past, mama began to sit with me and we started playing duets together. Soon we began performing in church, mama on the organ and me on the piano. We could do a rendition of Beethoven's "Moonlight Sonata" that was awesome. One of our favorites was "Sunrise Sunset" and I do not ever remember a time that we played it without crying before the end.

I am sure mama is already organizing a choir of angels and if God doesn't have a computer He will soon. She will have Him more organized that He knows what to do.

I love my mama more deeply than I have ever loved anything in my life. She is my best friend and I will miss her every day of my life. My only comfort is that we will be together again someday and I look forward to that day.

Vickie