Memorial Day

God-fearing, hard working, independent, opinionated, passionate, outspoken………….Those are just a few of the words I can think of to describe my mom,  Etta Nell Hubbard.  The strongest, most loving and caring woman I’ve ever known.  She worked as a Scrub Nurse at Parkland Memorial Hospital for over 40 years, but that’s only  what she did.  Who she was so  much bigger than that.   She was my biggest fan whether it was encouraging me from the front row of a school play,  or yelling at referees at one of my  football or basketball games.

Being an only child with an absent father, my mom and I spent a lot of time together.  I’ll never forget 1976, the year she took me to every Dallas Cowboys home game.  That was the year O.J. Simpson came to Texas Stadium as a Buffalo Bill and that night was one of the most exciting nights of my life.   She loved the Dallas Cowboys,  Roger Staubach and Denzell Washington.

It’s funny how we don’t fully grasp the lessons our parents try to teach us until after they’re gone.  Her work ethic and loyalty to friends and family helped shape who I am today.   She was the picture of self-sacrifice and the year before she died all she could talk about was what she was going to do for her then newborn grandson,  Elijah.  What I wouldn’t do for just one more hug.  Etta Nell Hubbard, I love you,  I thank you and I miss you.  This is your memorial.

Etta Nell Hubbard, March 12, 1932 - January 3, 2001