Franalee June Buchheister Thompson
b. May 18, 1931 - d. December 25, 2011
There has been a reason why I haven't posted for awhile. My darling mom passed away on Christmas Day, 2011 and I've been dealing with the kind of grief we all experience when someone special leaves our lives. Mom lived with us these past ten years so she was a very important member of our family and very present in our day to day lives. The boys have literally grown up with Oma right down the hall. What a blessing to not only have her as my mama when I was little but also as my friend in middle age. I'm so thankful to have had the opportunity to love and be loved so deeply over a lifetime.
Mom was an amazing woman...So much so, there's no way I can properly memorialize her in one entry so I'd like to remember her through a special blog, which I will set up later this week. As I spend this year processing through my grief I know that more and more good memories of Mom will flood back to me and a blog will be a perfect place to share them. I'd love it if family and friends would contribute their stories, photos, videos, etc...as we progress. I'll write more in detail of her life and death there. But I think it's important to remember and thank her here for all she gave to Brooke's Books. She was our production and shipping manager since we began in 2003 and she worked tirelessly to make sure our customers got the best products and service we could muster. Her work ethic was second to none...and I'm not just saying that. She and Dad taught us that "work was love made visible" and I am so greatful to them for teaching me that singular truth. Mom was also an essential inspiration in my design work. She was a very talented artist who not only encouraged me but gave me sound advice and much needed criticism which was so necessary for success. She had amazing taste with a keen understanding of color and composition...I feel lost without my dear artistic and creative friend. But most importantly Mom taught me to "never give up" so I know she would want me to look ahead to a year of new designs and "get on with it". LOL! So, without further adieu...
I miss you and will love you forever...my mother...my friend.
