Wind Beneath My Wings

To the page where I tell what my Mom means to me!

My Mom's name is Goldie Albertson.
And I thank God that he gave me to her. (or her to me!)

    She was born: Goldie Marie Bowman on July 6th, 1931, in eastern Nebraska : the 6th of 9 children born to Hazel and William Bowman. She was named "Goldie" after her Aunt Goldie.

Here is a picture of my Aunt Rosie and Mom with their babydolls.

    Goldie married Clude Eugene Albertson in 1949, and moved to LaPorte, Indiana, where my father's family lived.

Mom and Dad

    Starting in 1951 and ending in 1959, they had 4 children:

Carol - 1951                  Kenneth - 1953

Janice - 1956                  Denise - 1959

    In 1961 we moved to eastern Nebraska, and were nearer Mom's family.

    Things were never "peaches & cream" for our little family. My father was an alcoholic and would frequently get drunk and beat my Mom. In the 60's there were few alternatives for a woman with 4 children who was stuck in such a situation.
    The reason I even bring that nasty little fact up is to point out my Mom's bravery and sacrifice in the face of such abuse. Despite what she was going through, Mom was always there for us kids. When we were nervous or upset she would get out her guitar and start singing to us; teaching us so many of the older songs! She used music to calm us and let us know that we all could and would carry on. Never once was she so busy or involved in her own hurts that she didn't make time for us.
    She could have been selfish, but her heart has always encompassed us with a love that we knew would always be there!

    To me my Mom was everything good. She was the source of the only security I remember feeling as a child. I can never remember a time when she was too tired, too busy, or uninterested. So, no matter what went on anywhere else in my small world, my Mom was always the center of our home and my love.

    My mom is a wonderful person! She's a homebody, a homemaker, an excellent cook, and seamstress. I can remember that while us kids were young she often made the majority of our clothes, especially in the summer.
    Another wonderful memory was of coming home from school in a hurry on Fridays, 'cause that was Mom's "baking day". Her bread was the best, but it was the cinnamon rolls that we knew would be waiting on the table that really spurred us homeward!
    And Saturday nights meant all of us in the living room watching tv, after Mom had made either fudge or popcorn.

    All of the kids in the neighborhood were welcome at our house. Mom was always there with a smile for anyone who walked in the door!
    And later, when we were teens, she was a friend to all our friends. She often councelled and aided any troubled teen; from girlfriend/boyfriend troubles, to family problems, she was there to confide in.

    My parents divorced in 1966, and my Mom got a new chance at life. At first, it was all work though. My father chose not to help her financially after the divorce, and Mom took on three jobs to support us. She worked at the local drugstore as a cashier from 8am - 4 or 5pm, would come home and make supper, then get ready for her 2nd job, which was bartender at a family steakhouse. She worked there till 1 or 2 in the morning, came home, slept a few hours, then got up and did it all over again!
    Her third job? On her days off she would work at the local VFW or somewhere else. It's amazing when I think about it: she did it all out of love for us kids!

    Even in my adult life I've always leaned on her. She was there to give advice on taking care of my babies; then as they grew, how to deal with the childhood ailments, and heartaches.
    And once, when my marriage was going through an extremely rough period, she sat my husband and myself down, separately, and spoke to us. She knew exactly what we needed to hear, and promptly pointed out that we should look at the good things, not the bad and ride out the storm so that our love would grow beyond that moment in time.
    To this day my husband is one man who proudly says, "Mother-in-law problems? I've never had one!". That statement speaks for itself!

    In my own, rather awkward, way I am trying to say that my Mom has always been my hero. She taught me everything I know about love, forgiveness, sacrifice, charity, and courage.

Thank You Mom! I Love You!

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