Fond Meteorological Memories of Mom

Spring will come soon. I know this, because I have lived here a long time. That doesn’t mean it feels like it, though.

This week my team and I had to make an excruciating decision about whether to travel to Southwest Virginia to promote the Annual Diocesan Appeal as well as to have a Strategic Planning Workshop in Abingdon. Early in the week, it seemed that hour by hour the forecast was changing, and ultimately, we decided to err on the side of safety and not make the trip. My coworkers and I were disappointed to miss visiting SW VA and can’t wait to get back there soon.

In making my travel decision, I made many phone calls – Bishop Knestout, pastors/parishioners/parish staff from the places we were to visit, co-workers here in Richmond. While I appreciated everyone’s advice, the person I really wish I could have called is my mother, who passed away 11 years ago this month.

One of her many good qualities was that she always knew what the weather was going to be. In her later years, I would call her every night before bed, and we would always start off with the weather forecast. She watched so I didn’t have to. This week she would have taken on my dilemma like it was her job. She would have watched every news outlet she could, and I have to think she would have come up with an accurate analysis of just what was going to happen so I could ease my mind about taking my trip or not.

To be honest, before this week, I had not thought about my mother’s inclination toward meteorology for quite some time. Isn’t it funny how precious memories of those we miss can be sparked so unexpectedly?

God Bless,

Margaret

Margaret Keightley
Executive Director
Catholic Community Foundation of the Diocese of Richmond