Alexis Wood Layland

My mother lived a life of adversity.  Anytime Somebody told her no, she couldn't do it, she would do her damndest to achieve it every time.  Or if they said you're a girl, she would work twice as hard as any man.  She taught us how to survive.  She taught us which trees and plants gave medicine. Which one's gave nutrition.  She taught us how to dry and process animals.  She taught us how to cook a variety of cuisine from five or six different nations.  She ended up being my best friend.  I leaned on her and my father for most of my life.  My 2 sisters and I were extremely fortunate to have such dedicated parents.  When the educational institution failed us, our parents home schooled us.  They taught us that if you are able to help people who can't help themselves, then you are obligated to.  If I have the knowledge that somebody else needs, then you are also obligated to share it.  Both of my parents grew up as children not regarded in the highest esteem by their society, this didn't make them back down.  In fact, it made them learn how to fight in new ways.  Unfortunately for my parents, they raised 3 girls that have the same mentality.  They have this constant fight profile.  So arguments became a daily thing in our household, it wasn't always just to prove our point, sometimes it was just because we were bored.

My parents told us each at least once that they were very proud of us.  They didn't say it very often.  They didn't need to say it very often.  Because they had raised us to be self reliant, to not need to be praised unless it was something extremely worthwhile  And though, at times, I think, that we were used as chess pieces against one another and against the other parent.  My parents seemed very wholeheartedly devoted to their children, both of them were very hard working and workaholics.  That's not to say they didn't enjoy life and what it had to offer more times than I can count. We were in the car just going for a drive, possibly for a picnic, not usually camping.

But every outing was a family outing.  Everyone was included and it wasn't until much later, in our young adult lives that we were even given the option to say we didn't want to go.  So we will miss both of our parents.  For the rest of our lives, we'll no longer have someone that we can call at 2 o'clock in the morning, that can give us mechanical advice.  No longer can we call mom to help us stitch ourselves up.  No longer help us deal with our life problems.  Be soundboards for everything else that we have going on.  Be those bright and shining faces to remind us that we're burning daylight.   I missed the days when dad used to go over to chucks to play cribbage.  I miss going to work with my mom at the nursing home.  I miss going to work with my dad at the junkyard.  I miss the people who helped me.  That would be there when we messed up and ask us what we learned, and help make it easier to get over it. 

But the one thing that they always told us for as long as I can even remember death is certain for all of us.  It is nothing to be sad over. It's nothing to mourn. It's the next chapter in their existence and we should be excited that they finally get to take that journey!  So farewell great giants of my youth and Pillars of my adulthood!