My Mother Jean, a Maverick
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I wanted to explain why it was necessary for my mother to leave my dad. When she met him, he was a very handsome, kind and intelligent man, athletic and with a great sense of humor. After they married, he had to go immediately to the war in Korea. He returned a different person. My mother had four daughters with him and during that time she came to realize that the war had brought out schizophrenia in him. This is a hereditary disease that strikes almost always when the person is young and it's brought out by stress or trauma. In the 1950's, there was really no good treatment for it other than shock treatments which were not very helpful. It became dangerous for my mother to stay with my dad. Through prayer, she got her answer to leave him. I like to think everything happens for a reason. That was one of many trials she was to have in life. My dad died a few years ago. He had four different wives throughout his lifetime and had been with his last one since the 80's. I remained on good terms with him but never got to feel close to him. There are many sad things in life but I am thankful for all the blessings in life despite the hardships.
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FROM A REUNION 4 YEARS AGO IN IOWA (A FEW OF MY SISTERS MISSING FROM THE PICTURE)
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Alberta “Jean,” the different one was she
since her birth and among her family.
This redhead born of parents with dark hair
had felt herself an odd plain duck; in prayer
she’d kneel and on her father’s farm was awed
by nature. In the fields, she’d pray to God.
With fervent adoration for her God,
she searched for truth. A maverick was she.
She left her parents’ church, for she was awed
by teachings not those of her family.
The Gospel she discovered through deep prayer
dismayed her folks, as had her bright red hair!
Upon her birth, because of her red hair,
her folks had joked she wasn’t theirs, but God
would lead her to a new life. On a prayer,
she traveled west. A restless soul was she -
the one to leave her home and family
to find her niche; by her bold move I’m awed.
By all the things she did back then, I’m awed.
She joined the Navy. Jean, with bobbed red hair,
would meet my dad and start a family.
Great trials came to her. She called on God.
To go back home then was the answer she
was given after long and pleading prayer.
She had to leave my dad. I know through prayer
this answer came to her. Again I’m awed
because with us, her four small daughters, she
became a single mom. She wore long hair
up in a bun, worked hard, had faith in God,
and married someone else with family.
Eight children then were in our family.
My mother taught her stepkids about prayer,
affecting all our lives. Her trust in God
is never-ending, and we all are awed. . . .
She’s 80, widowed, and still has red hair
and goes out dancing!! Rare indeed is she!
With faith in God, Jean raised a family.
No need of fame has she, for she has prayer
and grandkids awed now by her still red hair!
* see about poem for more info on Jean
*I tried to make this one like a rhyming Sestina. Instead
of choosing just any six words to repeat at the end of
each line, I decided to use three pairs of words that
rhymed with each other. The position of the words
changes from stanza to stanza, but I think the rhyming
aspect still holds strong.
Written 2/13/12
Today her hair is salt and pepper and she just turned 89!
For the 'Mother -' Contest of Constance La France
Copyright © Andrea Dietrich | Year Posted 2012
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