A Son's Tribute: Remembering Mom

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Have you ever caught yourself thinking about your mother's wisdom years after she shared it? That moment when her practical advice suddenly makes perfect sense in your adult life?

Mother's Day provides a perfect opportunity to reflect on the incredible women who shape us, and in this heartfelt episode, I open up about my own mother's profound influence. Growing up with a truck-driving father who was frequently on the road, my mother essentially raised two boys single-handedly during the week. Her overprotective nature wasn't just caution—it was her language of love.

What strikes me most about my mother was her brilliant analytical mind (she could have been an incredible computer programmer) paired with an uncompromising work ethic. "If you're being paid, there's always something worth doing," she'd say, bringing work home after full days at the store. She taught me that work wasn't just a duty but a reflection of character. Her practical wisdom extended to spotting con artists instantly, valuing authenticity above all, and demonstrating generosity through her legendary gift-giving—I rarely left her home without finding a $20 bill tucked into my pocket, even as an adult.

The Sunday dinners she prepared remain vivid in my memory—waking early to start cooking before church, ensuring a delicious meal was ready by one o'clock, always with enough to welcome unexpected guests. These weren't just meals; they were expressions of love and care that nourished our family bonds. Not a day passes without thoughts of her crossing my mind, wishing I could ask just a few more questions or hear her wisdom one more time. If your mother is still with you, I hope this episode inspires you to reach out, give her a hug if possible, and treasure the time you have together. The lessons our mothers teach us truly become the foundation of who we are.

Share your own mother stories with me at dannyneal.com—I'd love to hear how your mother shaped your journey too.

#mothersday #mothers #sonsandmoms #lessons #momthoughts #momlessons

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:03):
Welcome to Dan the Road Trip Guy.
I'm your host, dan, and eachweek we'll embark on a new
adventure, discovering memoriesand life lessons of our
incredible guests, from everydaytravelers to thrill seekers and
everyone in between.
This podcast is your front rowseat to inspiring stories of
passion, resilience and thepursuit of happiness.
So buckle up and enjoy the ride.

(00:24):
You know the saying better latethan never.
Well, that's what this episodeis.
Last Sunday was Mother's Day.
I fully intended to post thislast Sunday, but things got in
the way.
Better late than never.
Here's my Mother's Day episode.
Last Sunday, I couldn't helpbut think about my own mother

(00:47):
and the impact she had on mylife.
My mother-in-law had a hugeimpact also Both wonderful women
.
I also thought about the motherof my own children, linda, and
what a great mom she is.
If you follow along on mypersonal episodes, you know that
in 2023, my daughter, laurengave me the gift of story worth.
She basically presented me with53 questions to answer over the

(01:11):
course of a year.
One of those questions was whatwas your mom like when you were
a child?
In honor of Mother's Day, Ithought I would share about my
mother, and here's the story.
At times, I've described her asprotective, but the more
accurate word is overprotective.
That was her way of expressinglove.
Married to an over-the-roadtruck driver, she spent most of

(01:34):
the week at home raising her twoboys on her own.
I often wonder if being in asense a single mom during the
week made her even moreprotective.
Regardless, she handledeverything, week after week,
with unwavering dedication.
I remember riding with her inmy Jeep, a stick shift, and
being amazed when she couldeffortlessly shift gears.

(01:57):
Surprised, I asked how did youlearn to drive a manual
transmission?
Without hesitation, she repliedI drove a jeep in my younger
days.
She was a country girl at heart,never drawn to the city life.
Incredibly smart, she had thekind of analytical mind that
could have made her an excellentcomputer programmer or maybe an

(02:18):
accountant.
She was always thinkinglogically, approaching life with
a practical and sharpintelligence.
Logically approaching life witha practical and sharp
intelligence.
She was relentless in her workethic, never one to sit idle
when there was a job to be doneAfter a full day at the store,
she would bring work home.
It could be stamping foodstamps In those days.
They were paper and they had tobe stamped with the paid stamp.

(02:40):
Or typing up statements on thetypewriter.
Her philosophy was simple Ifyou're being paid, there's
always something worth doing,and she meant it.
If I hadn't swept up the storeporch and straightened the pop
bottles the night before, I knewI'd be up early to finish the
task, before the doors opened at7 30.
She instilled a deep sense ofresponsibility.
Work wasn't just a duty, it wasa reflection of character.

(03:04):
She instilled in me theimportance of giving back, often
by volunteering me for certainjobs like cutting grass at the
cemetery, or for a kind womannamed Mrs Ross.
I remember her telling me nowdon't accept Mrs Ross's money.
I tried my best to slip awayunnoticed after finishing the
work, but more often than notMrs Ross would catch me before I

(03:26):
could make my escape.
Mom had no patience for conartists.
I remember a trip to Atlanta.
My brother had left home bythen and we were meeting Dad
there.
We stopped at a service stationfor gas back when attendants
still checked the oil and underthe hood for problems, one tried
to convince Mom there was aproblem with the fan belt.
Without hesitation she told himwe're meeting my husband just

(03:49):
down the road.
Once we were back in the carshe said did you see him banging
his watch band on the metalframe?
She had spotted his trickinstantly, trying to make it
seem like there was somethingwrong.
She wasn't fooled for a secondand had no attention of playing
into his scam.

(04:10):
One of the things my mom wasknown for and that she
absolutely loved was gift giving.
I could rarely leave her homewithout a $20 bill tucked into
my pocket, even as an adult, asmall token of her generosity.
She was famous for her cashgifts to us at Christmas, always
making sure someone had somecash to take along with them so
that they could buy somethingthat they desired.
Looking back as an adult, Iwonder if those gifts may not

(04:31):
have always fit comfortably intoher budget, but that never
stopped her Giving was simply apart of who she was and a way of
showing love and making sureothers felt cared for.
She had no patience for peoplewho put on a show, whether it
was bragging about their wealthor flaunting their knowledge.
She valued authenticity, andyou always knew where you stood

(04:51):
with her.
She valued authenticity and youalways knew where you stood
with her.
She never hesitated to speakher mind, holding nothing back
when it came to honesty.
She was an incredible cook andeven after all these years I can
still taste her meals as ifthey were made yesterday.
She worked her magic in a tinyeat-in kitchen and, looking back

(05:11):
, I'm still amazed at how shemanaged it all.
Sunday dinners were a traditionwe eagerly anticipated She'd
wake up early, start the mealbefore church and finish it up
once we got home by one o'clock.
Dinner was ready, alwaysplentiful, always delicious, and
she always made enough towelcome any unexpected guest who

(05:35):
happened to stop by.
Not a single day passes withoutthoughts of her crossing my
mind.
I find myself wishing I couldask her just a few more
questions, hear her wisdom onemore time and soak in the
guidance she always seemed tohave for us.
If your mother's still alive, Ihope you'll reach out to her.
I hope you'll give her a hug ifshe's close by.

(05:55):
I miss mine every day and Ihope you have a blessed day.
Thank you for tuning in to Dan,the Road Trip Guy.
I hope you enjoyed our journeytoday and the stories that were
shared.
If you have any thoughts orquestions or stories of your own
, I'd love to hear from you.
Feel free to reach out to meanytime.
Don't forget to share thispodcast with your friends and
family and help us to spread thejoy of road trips and great

(06:17):
conversations.
Until next time, keep driving,keep exploring and keep having
those amazing conversations.
Safe travels and remember youcan find me on the internet at
dantheroadtripguycom.