She would have been 69 today. She was my age when we first heard the "c" word…"it happens to other families, not ours", I remember thinking. She left us 14 years ago…I still feel more sadness than joy when I think about her…maybe that will change someday…maybe next year.
You can quit reading at this point if you’d like…this will probably be long…this is for me … and maybe my grandkids…it’s not really meant to interest others…just my thoughts on a melancholy day…remembering mom.
She was more beautiful than she knew…really. I don’t think she knew it…at least not the extent of the physical beauty…Dad reminded her often, but she wasn’t from a family of particularly attractive people. Average at best…not so average if you really want to know the truth. She looked like a Cherokee version of what I imagine Pocahontas looked like. Dark and fair at the same time. She was beautiful.
She always rooted for the underdog…probably because she was one. The product of a broken home…before that was an everyday event…her dad an alchoholic…her mother worked hard to scratch out a life for her girls.
Family was it for her…I think she would be proud of hers now…I know she would.
She loved to sing…always sang in the chior…solos every once in a while. She was terrible…no really…I’m not being cruel…she was just really bad…didn’t stop her though. She was that way…desire trumped talent…I think some of us might be guilty of the same at times…it’s good to be talented but not always necessary.
She was religeous…in the best sense of the word. She practiced her faith. She wasn’t perfect…worried too much…like a juicy story (translated gossip) as much as the next guy. Her faith was real…born out of hard times of having to depend on God. They say that God has no grandkids…but she passed she did her best to pass it down. It was real to her and she made it real to us.
She was hopelessly unhip (a trait that I unfortunately inherited). Her attempts at relevance are humorously legendary among those of us who grew up around her…torn off instead of ripped off…groovy never quite sounded right rolling off her lips…never stopped her from trying though.
She loved her kids and she loved who her kids loved. That was important to me. She was my friends favorite…hands down…even after I stopped loving them…sometimes she didn’t…awkward at times…but that was mom.
She had favorites…friends, places, relatives, and kids…(it was’t me…but don’t shed any tears…my inner child is just fine and…there were other advantages to being the oldest)…any guesses?
I could go on…that’s enough for now. I feel better for having written. Happy birthday mom…
Beautifully written. I still miss her most days.
Comment by Dee McGarity — September 18, 2005 @ 3:59 am
I'm glad you still talk about her. I was 11 when she died and my memories of her tend to grow weaker as every year passes. I do remember getting yelled at for drinking all of the milk in her fridge. Also, the time when I believe she saved my life in our "wreck". She obviously did a great job…at least with some of you guys.
My guess on her favorite is Geoff.
Comment by Josh — September 18, 2005 @ 7:44 am
Thanks for writing that Greg. You expressed it perfectly. I can't believe it's been 14 years. I still miss her.
Comment by Chris Surratt — September 18, 2005 @ 10:55 am
Beautifully written, Greg. You left me wanting to read more. I agree with Josh: I'm glad you still talk about her. I can't believe she would be 69 years old. And, yes, she was beautiful. And, yes, I loved her, too.
Comment by Doug McGarity — September 18, 2005 @ 4:38 pm
Dear Greg; You do not know me,but My husband and I have attended Seacoast a few times(should attend more,hopefully we will!).We both think Seacoast is a Wonderful Church,we are in "AWE" of the amount of people that fill the Church each week!!I just read your BLOG about your Mother.I am sure your Mother is looking down with PRIDE, I know I surely would be!!
May God Bless You,your Family and your Church Always and keep your Words so Inspireing. Sincerly,Brenda(A Proud Wife,Mother,GrandMother)
Comment by Brenda Lowman — September 19, 2005 @ 1:33 am
What I remember most about your mom is the great family dinners she fixed. What a great cook, and she didn't worry about all the healthy crud. Wilted lettuce salad (you know, hot bacon grease poured on top of the lettuce so it wilts just right), fried chicken, tamale casserole. Ah, those fat grams sure tasted good. And we always ate off those beautiful dishes with the pink flowers ("don't grab that platter by the broken corner!")
Happy Birthday to a great mom-in-law. I'm thankful for the great kids you raised!
Her favorite? Definitely Chris!
Comment by sherry — September 19, 2005 @ 8:13 am
Thanks for posting dad. I too miss grandma and am proud of the legacy that she has left. I wish that I could have known her better…I was 13 when she died. I can't wait to get to know her more in Heaven some day!
Comment by Jason — September 19, 2005 @ 8:35 am
Hey Greg,
I probably was one of those friends that she keep loving. HA. Her desire to connect with a bunch of long haired kids wearing bell bottoms and wide collars is one of my favorite memories of church. I know she did not sing well, but she could play a great accordian and organ. My thoughts are with you as you remember one of the great ladies of our time. We we're surely blessed. A few of us knew what a great pot roast she had waiting after service on Sundays. And all this time, you thought I was coming to hang out with you??? Thanks for reminding us again.
Comment by Terry Hilgers — September 19, 2005 @ 9:30 am
Two thoughts as I read your blog today; I am hopeful that my children will remember me in as fond a manner and how special a blessing it must have been to have had a parent like your Mom. Having listen to your messages over the years, it is not too difficult to see the influence that she had on your life.
Comment by Jerry McSwain — September 19, 2005 @ 11:58 am
she gave me(to this day) my favorite birthday present ever…red cowboy boots…i think everyone remembers…that was usually the only thing i was wearin lol
Comment by Dee McGarity — September 19, 2005 @ 12:39 pm
haha srry uncle greg that last one was chase haha
Comment by Dee McGarity — September 19, 2005 @ 12:41 pm
I'm convinced that the best blog entries are the ones we write for oursleves. What a beautiful tribute!
Comment by Brittany Meyers — September 19, 2005 @ 1:16 pm
I'm sitting here with tears in my eyes remembering how good your mother (and father ) were to me. I always thought of her as beautiful both phyically and as a person. Suddenly I remember her sitting at the Hammond for all of those alter calls in Lakewood when we were kids. And I remember all the meals she fixed for us in Neosho While we were at Evangel.
After they moved to texas they were no longer a part of my life and so I did not miss her the way I do at this moment.
I have never been able to reconcile events like her death with the faith I was taught growing up.
Four years ago this spring my brother's wife, Betty, Died several months after suffering a massive stroke the day after Christmas. She was only 49. She had suffered through several years of hard times with my brother.
They had met in the Boulder Colorado Assembly fo God as teenagers. They married and for some reason He became a hard drinking alchoholic instead of a minister as planned.
Betty hung in there through thick and thin and there was a lot of thin. but, eventually it paid off for her and he turned his life around. The last few years together they were very happy almost like one person living in two bodies.
Just like your mother there was just no making sense of her early death.
I guess some people are so good they just get to go home early. Thanks for taking me back to those happy days. Tim Creedon
Comment by Tim Creedon — September 21, 2005 @ 3:48 pm
Greg, how nice to read the shared memories of a mother so cherished. I too lost my mom to cancer 7 years ago, she was 67. Her birthday was September 13th, so this is a very somber, melancholy month for me. It is amazing how God fills us with so many loving memories! Not a day goes by that I don't think of her!
We were raised Penticostal Holiness and Sunday dinners were always special. Mom was not into the low-fat, crisp salad, no sugar mode either. It was fat back and bacon grease all the way! Banana pudding or chocolate pie (sometimes both!) I guess that's the true reason all our
friends came by on
Sundays! My husband remembers going to church with me on Sundays when we were dating (he was an Episcopalion), just so mom would ask him to stay for dinner!
How wonderful to know I will see her again in heaven, wow what a reunion that will be!!
Thanks for sharing and opening the door to fond memories of a cherished mom! I needed that!!
Joy Moore, a long time seacoaster
Comment by Joy Moore — October 2, 2005 @ 1:25 am
Greg:
Thanks for the sharing some special memories of your Mom. Although they were miles apart, there are many similarities with my Mom (Except, unbelievable as it may sound, she hand NO FAVORITES !). Coming from 13 and having eight children, 32 grandchildren, 12 or so great grandchildren when she passed away in 1989, if she had favorites, she kept it to herself.
I'm not sure who would be the favorite among the Surratt clan, but my bet would be who she picked upon the most.
I never met your Mom, but have met your Dad. They are, I'm sure, very proud of the entire Surratt Family. I know that I am.
Comment by Ron Fazio — May 8, 2008 @ 1:44 pm
thank you for sharing your mom. i am blessed by knowing your thoughts on her which give me a closer look at the kind, thoughtful individual you are. what a beautiful person she was to pass down to your heart a deep passion for life. i am blessed to call you my pastor.
Comment by debbie delong — May 10, 2008 @ 1:07 pm