Mothers in Law

Originally published 12/3/2007

I hate mother-in-law jokes. They make wonderful women look bad.

My former mother in law, Janie Palmer, passed away last night after a courageous battle with cancer. She stayed with us a lot longer than her DRs said she would. I figured that. She was a tough cookie and I loved her dearly.

When I divorced her son, who is the father of my daughters, she told me "Just because you divorced Ronald, doesn't mean you divorced us. You are still family." This was about 25 years ago and I still have not forgotten those words. The kindest words ever spoken to me.

The only consolation I have is that she is no longer in pain.

I love you Janie. And I will miss you.