Mom Went to See Jesus on 12-27-2000, and Snow Photographs on 12-27-2022 (published 12-27-2022; article #382)

Introduction

At 3:06 PM, as I begin to write, the sun is shining brightly. The temperature is 41 degrees Fahrenheit (5 Celsius). The snow (about an inch, or 2.54 centimeters), which fell late yesterday afternoon and overnight, has melted except in shady areas. Molly (our “old puppy”) is now mostly outside or in her basement condominium, no longer an indoor dog. She had been staying on the couch in hibernation mode. Our four days of winter (12/23-26/2022), with highs below freezing, are over. Springtime in winter is resuming.

Presently, Mrs. Appalachian Irishman is visiting her folks. Her youngest sister returns to “Nashvegas” later today. I had not planned to write this article, but I decided to do so.

Mom Went to See Jesus on 12/27/2000

I reread several articles that I have published around this time of the year about my mother (Betty Lou Wood Ferrell, 11/24/1932-12/27/2000). My brief article from 12/27/2010 is one of my favorites. The entire article is as follows:

Ten Years Ago Today (published 12-27-2010)

Ten years ago today, at 5:15 PM, Mom went to be with Jesus. She was the best mother that I could have ever had. Taken at only 68 years old, Mom could still be alive today, touching the lives of family and friends in her unique way. Mom’s absence has been felt strongly these past ten years.

Mom, I miss you, but I know that you are in a far better place. Tell everyone—Granny, Papaw, Uncle Bobby, Dad, and so many others—that I will see them someday. Life goes on here until we are all reunited there.

I love you, Mom, bunches and bunches!

See Happy Birthday, Mom (published 11-24-2009).

My 11/24/2009 article, “Happy Birthday, Mom,” linked above, is probably my favorite entry that I have written about my mother. Every time I reread the article, tears swell up in my eyes, but I do not cry.

At 5:15 PM today—as I have done every December 27th since 2001—I will pause, be silent for a while, and remember.

I still miss my mother's made-from-scratch, homemade biscuits and her Rice Krispies Christmas wreath, both symbols of her love. I have known many genuine Christians. I try to be one. Mom was and is the most genuine Christian that I have ever known.

Twenty-two years have passed since my mother went to see Jesus. The memory of her loss is with me daily, especially on December 27. Her loss has become easier to place into an everlasting perspective.

The earthly family circle is unbroken. I am trying to do my best to serve God, such as I can and as he allows me, until it is my turn to join the heavenly family circle.

Snow Photographs Today (12/27/2022)

Twenty-two years ago, the weather was cloudy and very cold on Wednesday, December 27, 2000. We had about the same type of weather, maybe a little warmer, this morning. I took the two photographs below at about 10 AM.

The view looks southwest. The backyards of several neighbors are farther to the southwest. Can you see Molly's deck footprints in the snow? Earlier, she ventured outside to “Molly doggy around,” as I call it. She didn't stay out long. Molly liked the warm couch better.

The above is Molly in “partial hibernation mode,” taking it easy on the couch! The old sheet covers the leather couch. My wife was taking a shower at the time. Molly had been sleeping. She still looks sleepy in the photograph.

Don't worry! Once the temperature warmed up more and the sun came out, Molly went back to being a mostly outside “old puppy”! Her dog door is set, so she can come into her basement condominium as desired.

Conclusion

I trust that the TVA rolling blackouts, about which I wrote on Christmas Eve, did not harm anyone that has to use oxygen tanks that don't have battery backups. Mom had oxygen tanks during her final days at home. I am glad that we didn't have rolling blackouts then.

By the way, I learned that the Christmas Eve professional football game, played on the Tennessee Titans' (or “Tin Cans”) home field, was delayed by an hour due to rolling blackouts. The Texans beat the “Tin Cans” 19 to 14. TVA had advised us to conserve energy, turn off unnecessary lights, not do laundry, etc., but the lights at Titan Stadium shined brightly. What hypocrites!

The time as I write now is 4:06 PM. I hear Molly barking in the backyard. I think that I will go outside and have some fun with her.

Don't worry. I will come back inside. At 5:15 PM, I must pause, be silent for a while, and remember. Mom, I still love you bunches and bunches! I will see you again, once I join you.