My Mom- A Tribute to The Twins
- May 1, 2002
- 2 min read
Updated: Oct 19, 2025
It is never easy to let go of loved ones; this particular loss was especially hard for me. I created this video to honor my mom and her twin sister to give a glimpse into their amazing world, we had the privilege of being part of.
My mom had a sense of humor that carried her through endless tragedies most people could never imagine -but she made life easier and palatable for us to survive and thrive because of the humor and love she shared. Whether it be when her son and my brother was in a fire at 10 years old that resulted in 3rd degree burns on his left leg and a life of excruciating pain- she was his constant angel. Her husband /my dad was a giving and caring man until those times when he wasn't. He had his demons that she never let get her down and she was with him over his years through thick and thin including all his hospitalizations over the years for the big 3- Cancer, Heart, Cirrhosis until cancer won in 1981. Later as she witnessed the hardest grief she felt that any parent would face- to lose a son. She herself dealt with her own ongoing bouts with cancer in her positive attitude she faced life with- she never complained or whined once that anyone can recall. We learned to deal with life's surprises both good and bad with the humor and grace she taught us and how to face life head on. We had lots of wonderful experiences whether it was our summers at Balboa Island or fishing vacations at June Lake. Many involved at least once a week connecting with her twin and my cousins and countless escapades. We celebrated her new beau and marriage at 80 and she thanked her romance novels for good ideas.
As she noted, once she found the computer in her late 70's- she became what she fondly noted as an "email monster". instead of periodic letters that we struggled to read her writing, she was a prolific email writer of daily/weekly nudges to us all along with amazing stories of her life experiences that she published. She especially liked writing Letters to the Editor at the LA Times- She was one of "The Twins" after all.
When cancer came back after 20 years, she invited us all to be with her the last 6 months of her life at 84 years old. In the last few weeks, we came to be together and she had us all sing "Hear I am Lord" in case he forgot she stopped all meds and was waiting patiently for the big day. or when she wrote her email chain to say Sayonara but then when no one wrote back- she realized her error and let them know to keep writing - she was still there. Or when the nun came to pray with her and was told to instead pray for space for the hall at the church for room so they could have the funeral reception there because no one could deal with her stairs and there was more room for everyone. And as she said-- with her core mantra- "Keep the Faith". Welcome to my Mom- Kathleen and The Twins...
