Amy W - writer, NYC

When my mother got her first job as a first grade teacher just after graduating from college, she used her first paycheck to put a down payment on a racing green MG convertible. In the subsequent 45 years, she has always owned a convertible, even as safer, more family-friendly cars came and went in our driveway and our family's garage. I think that years from now, decades from now, when I think of my mother, I will see her this way: behind the wheel, blond hair blown back by the wind, sunglasses on, cool, contained, and on the open road in a universal symbol of freedom.

Teresa L - freelance print specialist, Certified Life Coach, mother of one, grandmother of one

My mom was a homemaker until the youngest of her 4 children was all grown up. She was 50 years old at the time, with no previous work experience, but she started looking around for opportunities. The small city she was living in advertised for someone to start up a Volunteer Bureau. My mom applied for and got the job. She ran this organization for the next 15 years and, when she retired at 65, she was awarded the Woman of the Year Award from the YWCA.

Her organizational skills and love of people enabled her to achieve many markers that surprised even her: she got the law changed so physically and mentally challenged people were allowed to volunteer; she enrolled nearly every non-profit organization in the city into her program and matched volunteers to their needs; she established a program with the university so volunteers could obtain credits; she got good at writing proposals and got extra funding to hire more staff; she even hosted a regular local TV show where she interviewed both agencies looking for volunteers and volunteers who shared their experiences to encourage others to volunteer. She also volunteered herself while she was working full-time.

She was flown to a larger city once a year to speak on Volunteerism. She had become the Expert. She spoke on how to enroll volunteers and how to make sure that programs had benefits for volunteers. She loved parties and regular appreciation nights were always on the agenda.

After she retired, my mom took on the challenge of heading up the Volunteer Program for the Seniors’ Olympics. She first decided what different areas were needed, then enrolled volunteers to head those areas and empowered them as decision makers and leaders. That was the first year in the history of the Seniors' Olympics where they had to turn away interested volunteers because they had too many.

My mom, at 50 years old, went from unemployed with no experience to being a leader in her community. I’ve always said: ‘If she can do it, we can do it.’

Sylvia L - to her mother who died of colon cancer

OH ANGEL, MY GUARDIAN

YOUR EYES OPEN WIDE

THOSE OF A CHILD

A VIEW THROUGH THE WINDOW

OF YOUR SOUL, THERE INSIDE

I WALK TO YOUR BED

THE YEARS SLIP AWAY

MEMORIES FLASH BY ME

ALL THE WORDS NOT SAID

TIME, IT GOES QUICKLY

MINUTES, HOURS, DAYS

YOUR COMFORTING WORDS

VANISH IN A HAZE

SPEAKING SO CALMLY

YOU ACCEPT WITHOUT FEAR

THE FUTURE AWAITS

OF ONE I HOLD DEAR

THE FACE OF AN ANGEL

A HEART SO PURE

NO THOUGHTS THAT ARE EVIL

OH, WHERE IS THE CURE?

A LIFE THAT WAS TROUBLED

FULL OF PAIN, YET THE LORD

AWAITS ‘ROUND THE CORNER

IT IS TIME, STRIKE THE CHORD

YOUR SPIRIT WILL DANCE

YOUR BODY AT REST

THE SOUL OF A SAINT

WILL FLY WITH THE BEST

OH TAKE ME WITH YOU

EACH TEAR THAT I SHED

I LONG TO BE NEAR YOU

I SLEEP AT YOUR BED

FOR IT IS WRITTEN

AT THE END OF TIME

THE CHOSEN FEW WILL INHERIT

WILL IT BE MINE?

QUESTIONS I ASK

AS THE TIME DRAWS IN

YOU NO LONGER CAN ANSWER

I STARE AT MY SINS

OH GOD, HOW I PRAY

AS YOUR EYES I DON’T SEE

OH GOD, HOW I HOPE

AS I SING, SING , SING

THE TIME IT HAS COME

YOUR EYES I DON’T SEE

LIFE HAS BEEN TAKEN

I AM LEFT HERE, WITH ME

TIME, IT GOES QUICKLY

THE PAIN IS STILL HERE

BUT YOUR SPIRIT’S WITH GOD

AND YOUR LOVED ONES ARE NEAR

EACH STEP THAT WE TREAD

EACH THOUGHT WE THINK

OUR HEARTS RISE TOWARDS YOU

WE ARE THERE IN A BLINK

FOR GOD, HE IS GENTLE

OUR WISHES HE HEARS

OUR LIFE MAY BE SHORT

BUT OUR SOUL WILL HAVE YEARS

THE EYES OF AN ANGEL

OUR HEADS WE WILL BOW

THE PRAYERS OF A MOTHER

SHINE DOWN ON US NOW

Veronica H - Pam's 3rd daughter, Arizona writer and mom to two girls

My mother, Pamela Tiger, was part of the first senior class to graduate from Pequannock high school in New Jersey. In May 1960, the senior class initiated skip day, heading to their cars instead of the cafeteria at lunchtime. Those who had cars packed as many friends as they could into their vehicles and headed to the barn.

That afternoon in May, Pam was driving her boyfriend’s car. A hot car set up for drag racing. While sitting at a red light next to a fellow classmate, Pam heard the other guy rev his engine. She knew he wanted to show off. She decided to give him a run for his money.

When the light changed, Pam stepped on the gas, too. This was her first drag race, and it was up hill. Pam played it cool and shifted whenever the other driver shifted. And Pam Tiger won the drag race up Butler Hill on the inaugural senior skip day for Pequannock high school.