Blisstory Question - Mom

What are the things you love, cherish, and admire most about your mother?


Obviously my mom is the person that I loved first in my life and I cherish the life she gave me. At 77 years old, she still has that spunky, defiant, never give up attitude. Yeap, that’s where I get it from.

When I say my parents taught me I can do anything, she’s the role model! She is the orginal bliss networker! I truly admire her ability to pick herself up when she’s hit with a blow, and she’s had more blows than I can remember. She’s suffered the loss of a child, the loss of her lifetime partner, 3 heart attacks, 2 strokes, breast cancer, lung cancer and lives with COPD and arthritis; nothing diminishes her love of life.

My mom is my first real friend. Along with being my friend and mother, she is a friend and mother to countless others. Along with her own 6 children, she has taken in strays for as long as I can remember. Today, her youngest grandson occupies a room at the "Grambo Inn". She is also a mother in law, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, aunt, great aunt, great, great aunt, and so much more. When I think about the many people that have crossed her path, I know that each of them was impacted in a positive way by her mere presence.

Today and every day I honor Janet Rose Griffin, the woman that brought me into this world. I love her enthusiasm, excitement, stubbornness, fortitude, graciousness, and her capacity to love, especially her family. Here’s to you mom!

We'd love to hear the things you love, cherish and admire most about your mother. Please send a note to sharemybliss@theblissnetwork.com. Include permission to post your comments on our sites!

OK, so here's some serious self promotion -

Pick your mom up a Sisstory Journal or Blisstory Journal today. Share her life, share her legacy, celebrate her!

An answer to a Blisstory question

"Write about the loss of someone close to you…"
submitted by Bliss Networker, Jeff Williams

I never thought about it much before reading this question, but I guess I should consider myself very lucky. Until this year I had never experienced the death of someone close to me.

I’ve witnessed car accidents where people have died, but I wasn’t close to them. I’ve been through hurricanes, tornadoes and all sorts of natural disasters, and people have died there too, but I wasn’t close to them. In high school some kids died in a car accident, but I wasn’t close to them either.

As a kid my Aunt died of cancer when she was 40, but I wasn’t close to her. My sister died when she was an infant, but I wasn’t close to her. My Uncle died of some rare disease he contracted while he was fighting in World War II, but I wasn’t close to him. All my Grandparents have died, one by one over the years, but I wasn’t really very close to any of them.

Through my line of work I have seen people have heart attacks and strokes, been stabbed or shot, cut in half by a train or burned to a crisp in a fire…but I wasn’t close to any of them.

You see, it isn’t that I haven’t seen more than my fair share of misery in my 47 years, it’s just that I’m really not that close to very many people.

This year though, my streak has sadly ended.

In August my Mother died after a short, but devastatingly painful bout with cancer. She was not young, like so many of the others that I have witnessed dying were. She was not a victim of a crime or a natural disaster. To the firefighter who transported her to the hospital, I’m sure that like so many times in my life, she was just another patient that he knew wouldn’t make it.

I won’t go into the details of her death, that’s not what really matters. What really matter are the details of her life. She was a friend, companion and wife to my Dad for 33 days shy of 55 years. She was the Mother to four children, three of which were at her bedside as she drew her last breath. She was a Grandmother, an Aunt, and a Sister. She was a devoted religious woman who’s last words uttered were the prayer of Last Rites.

To me she was more than a Mother; she was a friend and confidant. Even though we were at opposite ends of the political spectrum, we respectfully argued our viewpoint, knowing of course that each of us was right. We both loved to cook and often shared recipes or tips. We both enjoyed spirituality, again very differently, but with a mutual respect for each others different take on life.

Yes, my Mother was a lot of different things to a lot of different people, but to me, this year, she was the first person that I was truly close to that I have lost.

Lunafest 2008/2009 and ONE OF US FILMS

For the past two years, I've had the great pleasure of being involved with One of Us Films Carrie LeZotte and Lora Probert as they bring Lunafest to Metro Detroit. Filled with stories of reflection and whimsy, hope and humor, grace and perseverance, LUNAFEST films are renowned for celebrating the talents and stories of women. Not to mention that 100% of all the proceeds go to support worthy causes. It's a great way to share a little 'sisterhood' and see incredible films created by women all over the world.

'LUNAFEST was established in 2000 by LUNA, the makers of the Whole Nutrition Bar for Women, to simultaneously promote women filmmakers, raise awareness for women’s issues, and support worthy women’s nonprofit organizations throughout the U.S. and Canada.
LUNAFEST is completely funded by LUNA and run by a small, dedicated group of LUNA employees. 100 percent of all proceeds are donated to charity – 15 percent to the Breast Cancer Fund and the remaining 85 percent of proceeds go directly back to hosting community organizations.

Over the years, as LUNAFEST has grown from a single annual event to more than 140 festivals each season, LUNA’s commitment to this worthwhile program has grown as well. We are continually inspired by the individual and collective efforts of women – and we are awed by the results. To date, LUNAFEST has raised ver $250,000 for worthwhile women’s organizations, while raising hope and awareness for the stories of women everywhere.

This year, for those that wish to support Lunafest and One Of Us Films, they are pulling together an additional insert to the program. For $50.00 you can sponsor a business card size ad on the insert and receive a complimentary VIP ticket to the event being held on Thursday, October 23, 2008 at the Emagine Theatre, in Novi. The VIP Reception starts at 6:00 pm and ShowTime is at 7 PM. What a great opportunity to offer a group of women a discount or special offer, knowing that you are supporting worthy causes.

For more information and to resrve your spce on the insert, please contact:

Lora Probert Producer, One of Us Films 248-303-0537 Email: lprobert@oneofusfilms.org Website: www.oneofusfilms.org/

Thanks to ladies of Oneofusfilms, for your efforts and support. We are all faced with something, sometime, somewhere, that effects our lives so deeply we reach for help.