OMG - I have literally had the exact same hairstyle for 11 years :(

Mother In Law

September 4th, 2018

Well, today sure is a sad day....

I was 16 years old.  I met this cute guy in a park in Eldorado Park,  Johannesburg, South Africa.  He had long hair, a mustache and no shirt.  Drove a white, loud and fast Golf.  We started talking, connecting, flirting.  He came to my house one day to visit. As my mom arrived home from work, she yelled: "Oh My word, you are Phoebe's son!" I was shocked. She started her Eunice cackle and told us how she knew Craig's mom - Phoebe Moore. They were taxi buddies together and shared stories and pics of their children...

Fast Forward 27 years.  Even after Craig and I had gotten divorced, my "mum" (Phoebe) always remained that to me. She, her husband (dad) and Craig's siblings still treated me with so much love and respect as if I had never left their family.  Craig and I have remained friends.  I had so much heartache over the divorce, because of so much regret I felt..  But the family was still my family in some bizarre way.

Mum always smiled. You can ask anyone who knew Sister Phoebe Moore - she was the most gracious and pleasant woman.  The best one could ask for. So accepting and gracious, and she never let a day go by without me feeling like I am her daughter - not an outsider.. a true member of the family as if she had birthed me herself.

She had so much love and care to give.  Living in South Africa I was privileged to eat her Beef Chow Mein, handed down from her Chinese Heritage on Sundays.  Mum has a great story - the best part of it, was her unwavering faith in God.  One other story was how when she was young she was considered "white" in the Apartheid Era of South Africa - and her husband was considered "Colored" It was a crime for them to date or be seen together, so, like Trevor Noah - Mum, too was "born a crime"! - or in her case - a criminal, since she committed a crime by dating, then marrying outside of her race.

But the love story prevailed.  Mum and Dad ran a tight ship and sometimes their children pushed back against the drill sergeant ways. But there was NO mistaking the love and humility that was always found in the Moore home.  Mom and Dad had so much love for each other and mostly, so much Love and Faith in God.  Their home was a haven for their children and their church.

There was one family imprecation... a genetic syndrome that affected Uncle Patrick (Mum's brother) and later in the years affect mum who became very weak because of it.But man, she marched on regardless!

My mother and her visited each other from time to time and they spoke about Craig and I.  Neither one could wrap their minds around why we were not together. And every time my Mother would visit her, I would get a text about: "Phoebe and I were just talking.. so why did you get divorced again".. they were loving and accepting though. They were friends for life. We were family for life.

Every morning my mom would send Phoebe a text of encouragement for the day. As I write this I can hear mom's voice. Though I haven't heard it in so many years...  it was always so alive. So welcoming.

There is so much more I can and want to say.. but it hurts too much..

On August 23rd, 2019  - I received this text:

"Hi Delise, how are you?"... a few other questions and answers..  "I really hope I see you again one day Delise"  My response was: "Thanks Mum, I hope to see you again someday too, I love you".  "I love you too".

Then on September 4th I found out she was gone.....


Rest in Peace - Mum.. I will definitely see you again

May the God of our hearts be with us all....