Patricia Louise Oden

Dear 'Ma' - 

It's been quite a ride for you.  I've been around you for 55 years of the 75 you had on this blue ball we call Earth.  Can't honestly say that I don't wish you could have had more to share in this 'dance of life' we are all working through.  Dad would have given his smile and said 'yeah, its been a good one for you' - at least I believe he would...  You and Dad have two absolutely beautiful (inside and out) Grandkids - Austin and Lucy and of course the sweet little Emma (the Weinnerdog) which I am working on to get some weight off of currently.  

We lost Dad 6 1/2 years ago - then I moved you closer to us here in McKinney so that I could spend more time with you and take care of you as you needed it.  I reflect on how hard Austin and I worked in that process - he was quite the trooper through this and would have made Dad proud.  You had a really nice place that allowed you to see green trees and pasture behind and I think you really liked your home here in McKinney.  Just wished you would have allowed me to assist you with your furniture moves in the living room - oh well, I guess you managed just fine.  

Oh, so often you were there to talk and listen to me with my issues in 'life' and always an ear to listen and provide some guidance or critique to whatever was going on.  How I did appreciate this from you.  

You were always ready to go to whatever there was a sport event to allow you to see your Grandchildren play either softball & volleyball (for Lucy); baseball (for Austin) and yeah, even an occasional 'old man' baseball game that you would want to go to to see me play in.  Made for some good memories and great discussion points.  

I reflect that one of the best for you with Lucy was at her Easter weekend volleyball tournament at the Kay Bailey Hutchinson Center in downtown Dallas.  Her Elevate volleyball team was short handed with 2-3 of the girls not being able to play Easter Sunday morning in this large national tournament (22 states participating if memory serves correct).  The girls had no substitutes (6 girls only) and they would have to win 3-4 matches that day.  I said to Mom as we watched from the side - I don't know how these girls are doing it - but, they are doing it with no break nor substitutes...  You were so excited as the moment builded more and more as the girls continued to win against teams all across the US.  You were so happy and the occasional ' Whew!' would come from you with this excitement.  I was very happy - to watch my 'Little Lucy' in her dance of life in this fleeting moment in the grand scheme of things - but, so important to her Granny - especially when Lucy sat in between the only break they had awaiting who would play them in the Championship match.  Mom was so elated that Lucy was excited and talking with her - she had been so quiet with the trials in the Oden household compounded by her being the typical quiet teenage girl (to parents and other relatives).  I had to watch Mom closely through this Championship match - I did not want her to get too wound up and have a heartattack or something of the sort - but,  oh my - did she enjoy this - utter joy to see the overwhelming underdogs make it work.  She had a definite spring in her step for quite a while...

Her love for her Grandson can be summarized simply by the relationship that they shared through the names they had for one another.  Austin affectionately called his Granny: 'Grandsack' - she knew he was meaning this as the joking self that is indeed from her -< to me and to Austin.  Her affectionate response was always 'I Love you too GrandSonSack'.  It was one of their 'things'.  Austin always gave his Granny big old hugs and how much she loved this from you Son.  She beemed.  Going to Austin's baseball games was also a treat for her to see him playing first base for the McKinney High Lions.  Always a great time for her to enjoy - not that she knew all the rules and details of baseball (I would get occasional questions which is fine) - but, to be there and make sure that she witnessed this moment of his.  

She always enjoyed talking with her brothers and sisters around the country and kept up with them through often phone calls and her hovering over 'The Facebook' on her 'laptop' (iPad).  Between these times I would touch base with her on my drive home from work to see 'how was your day today Ma?' - a reasonable use of a 35-45 minutes commute from Texas Instruments (on a good day...).   Also, the last couple of years we would get together for Sunday meal at the my house and expecially the weekends when I had Lucy/Austin.  An opportunity to talk some and see direcly what was going on in the younger generation of 'peeps' in her life.

My Mom had a temper (Norwegian) - but, she also had patience and kindness to those that deserved this of her.  She would give you the shirt off of her back if you needed it and not make a big a big deal of it either.  Since this passing of her, I have received many text, cards/letters from various friends and family about her - her gift of laughter and being able to serve this up to others around her.  It definitely was a gift of hers to be able to spread this and this I have allot of appreciation for and admired it of her.  She always said 'Rick you got your brains from you Dad and your sense of humor from me'.  I believe that there is some truth to this...  And this goes to the next generation -  proudly and gladly - and as we all know, in a sense she will never be far away due to a cracked joke or kidding someone that will be the typical characteristic of Mom.

I miss you - always will - I am glad you are at peace and that I was finally able to be with you in your last 15 minutes to hold your hand (after being along for 9 days in the COVID wing); touch your hair; speak to you 'it will be ok Mom - relax and I Love you'; and play her final song.

When I was a teenager in Great Falls, MT - I am reminded of the absolute love my Mother had for the Royal Scots Dragoon Guard version of 'Amazing Grace'.  Often she would crank it on the stereo system and massive speakers that Dad had built for the house and she would rest her head back in her chair and just listen to the base in the middle section of this song.  She was in total peace in the moment with this.  Fortuately, the nurse in the COVID wing reminded me that the sedation given to Mom was such that she could still hear and suggested a song - of course this was my task to frantically find and fortunately, I was able to do so and played it 3 complete times before Mom passed away at 4:49PM.  She was holding my hand in hers and I could tell she has a grip on it - her eyes might have been closed - but, she was there with me - with her head back listening to the final song for her - and for me one day as well.