Memories of Mom — Grandma’s Laugh

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Someone once said, “Grandmas are moms with lots of frosting!” This story is a great example of that.

Paul and Katee

Paul and Katee

In this “Memories of Mom” installment Paul Westover, son of Kim and Pam and a grandson to Darrell and Evie, shares a reunion memory that centers on his Grandma Evie.

Now, this covers a little ground we’ve shared already a little this week when Evie shared a giggling memory of her mother. And all that Paul independently verifies is that the laughter has never stopped.

We’ve asked dozens of people if they had time to share a memory of Mom this week. But we didn’t coordinate or direct a thing with these stories. (And we’re pretty sure Paul and Evie didn’t coordinate things either.) It is a delightful reminder of how spontaneously consist the love of family can be.

Paul, in his wisdom, added a little musical element to his story — and for that we’re grateful, too. Enjoy:

Memories of Mom — Squaw Wrestling Mom

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kjwIs there anything Moms can’t do? For whatever reason, that is a lesson boys seem to have a hard time learning.

Or maybe it’s just genetic with the men in our family.

The other day we posted a few videos of Maurine Westover sharing memories of her Mom. Now we get to hear a little of her experience as a mother. I’m sure this wasn’t the only challenge she faced — and I’m equally sure she met other challenges with similar success.

In today’s installment of Memories of Mom Kyle J. Westover recalls challenging his mother to a contest of “squaw wrestling” — if only because he had spurt up in size and had the mental capacity of a teenager. (What was he thinking?)

Do you have a memory of Mom to archive forever as part of our family history? Please do so by sharing an audio file or a phone call…and we’ll post it up here so all can enjoy.

Memories of Mom — Mom and Mother in Law

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It has been a little more than a year since my Mom passed. Frankly, it is still hard for me to speak of her without getting emotional.

As boys I don’t think we realize the importance of Moms in our lives. But as men we sure do.

There is a bond between Mother and Son that is not quite like any other. I felt it with my mother. And I have witnessed it between my wife and our son, too.

In this installment in our series on Memories of Mom I share the story of the time my Mom actually encouraged me to pursue girls when I was a teenager. I don’t know how many Moms do that, but I suppose I was a special case. That experience is shared in context with a later relationship my Mother would have with the girl I chose to marry.

And that too proved to be a relationship I never really expected:

Memories of Mom — Evie’s Fits of Giggles with Her Mother

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Evie Westover

Evie Westover

Pictured to the right is Evelyn Riggs Westover — Aunt Evie to many of us. She took to the phone this past week to share with us some thoughts of her mother, Muriel Snow Riggs.

As part of her storytelling she relates a tale of getting into fits of giggles with her mother. I didn’t know this is where Evie gets this wonderful talent.

It delights me to hear her tell this story because it takes me back to a time when Evie would take us to early morning seminary when I was in high school. I couldn’t figure out how she could always be so positive and full of energy so early in the morning and can remember many, many times doing or saying the smallest thing that would, literally, give her fits of giggles.

I can recall one time being at the grocery store with Aunt Evie. She spied a tabloid at the checkout counter with a headline that screamed, “Man Marries Head of Lettuce”. She got to giggling about that headline so bad she could hardly write out her check.

So listen closely to this story as this wonderful talent was one she has had her whole life, and one she apparently shared with her Mom:

Memories of Mom — Remembering Grandma Snow

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From the history of my grandmother, Maurine R. Westover, comes these videos sharing a little of what life was like as her mother got ill and had to rely on some direction from Grandma Snow. The 2nd video in particular gives a glimpse into the life and personality of her Grandma Snow (Mary Nielsen Snow).

Even though this video was put together more than 30 years ago I think it appropriate to post it as part of our Memories of Mom series. In reality, these give us a little information about the lives of three women — Mary Nielsen Snow, Muriel Snow Riggs and Maurine Riggs Westover — grandmother, mother and daughter. This first video discusses the situation and what happened:

In this extended video we hear about Grandma Snow in particular. There are some tragic details as well as a humorous twist at the end that showcases some of the best of what I remember my Grandma’s personality being. Hearing her laugh again is a warm memory for me. Seeing this now is like having another visit with her…

The faint voice you hear in this video asking questions is my father, Kyle J. Westover. This video was recorded around 1985-86.

Tomorrow, continuing our series, we hear much more about Grandma Riggs, Muriel Snow Riggs, from my Aunt Evie, who recorded these memories just the other day. It too is a delight to hear.