The first year Gwendolyn and I were living in Oxford, Alma and Benny (and I think Susan too) came to visit. A few days before returning, Alma fell on the concrete stairs in our apartment building, knocked herself out and broke her jaw. The British medical system wired her jaw shut (no charge). It was just about the only time that I recall her being speechless!

My mother and Gloria and my Dad and Art used to take us sledding and ice skating in the winter. They taught us to skate, and I have loved to skate since I was a child. I even took figure skating lessons and celebrated my 50th birthday by executing a Waltz Jump.

I can remember Mom and Gloria pulling us through deep snow on our Flexible Flyer sleds. I remember Art building a bonfire by the pond. My father used to take us to larger, better skating sites, like the cranberry bogs.

Much joy, and the pattern for joy for a lifetime!

To me, she was always "Alma Mater." I'll second what Gwendolyn said about the photos capturing her essential character. She loved her family, she loved her cats, and she loved living in the house she grew up in. What a dear, fun-loving person! Good night and good bye, Alma. I miss you.

Having lived a long and successful life, your long journey has now come to it's end. I know you are resting in peace, greatful for all the love and selfless devotion that your loving son Tim gave you in your final years. Farewell and God bless you.

These pictures really capture the essense of my mother's personality, her life. I'm glad and grateful that you got your heart's desire, Mom, and lived at home until you died naturally, with no extreme measures taken.

Fair well Mom. One journey has ended as a new one begins. I miss you already, and I did love you very deeply. Tell Dad I miss him too.