Momma

Momma was somewhat of a radical.  She was an Irish Catholic from New England who just happened to marry a Tennessee Hillbilly.  I often wondered why the fur didn't fly on regular occasions. 
I remember being in Germany towards the end of the Vietnam Conflict '71-'74 and momma was bagging groceries at the post commissary.  You could spot her a mile away - she was the only one in a white jacket with a peace sign painted on it!! There are patches that read "War is not healthy for children and other living things", "Make love not war".. you get the idea.  I still have the jacket.  The collar is frayed and it needs new cuffs, but the artwork is still intact and that is what matters.
One year for Fasching (German equivalent of Mardi Gras) she went as Pippi Longstockings to a costume party and at Christmas she was always called upon to paint the neighbors windows.  Pop was a medic in the ortho dept and so she would paint him putting a cast on Santa, the mp across would be arresting Santa and so on.  She was really talented and could draw anything freehanded.
She sewed most our clothes and when traveling would dress us in basically the same thing - even the boys!! Our last trip to Germany she had a bolt of sea green corduroy - I remember it well.  I wore bell bottoms and vest with a bright yellow body suit, Diana did the same.  John and Ron had bell bottoms with jackets and yellow turtle necks, while Jenessa had a jumper with yellow turtle neck!  Not the most attractive colors, but cheap and she could pck us out of a crowd at any airport! 
She shared her love for the arts with all of us.  We were always encouraged to create in some manner, be it on paper, with music or on stage.  She was there for us, hung our art, sat and listened to cracked notes sing and supplied costumes for school plays.
She may have worked all her life outside the home, but she always had time to support us emotionally and managed to see to it that we gave our all in everything we did. 
Thanks for that, momma.