On this date in 1934 a newspaper editor in Amarillo, Texas proclaimed the first Mother-In-Law Day.
Modeled on the celebration of Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, Mother-in-Law’s Day was first celebrated on March 5, 1934, in Amarillo, Texas, where it was initiated by the editor of the local newspaper. The observance was later moved to the fourth Sunday in October. Mothers-in-law have never enjoyed the widespread respect and devotion that mothers have received over the years, and the rising divorce rate has given the whole concept of in-laws a less permanent place in the national imagination. This may be part of the reason why Mother-in-Law Day has failed to catch on like Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, and even Grandparents’ Day. But many people feel that mothers-in-law deserve a special day of their own, if for no other reason than for their good humor in enduring the many jokes that have been told about them. (Source)
So while it isn’t really Mother-In_Law Day, I won’t rave about how great my mother-in-law was, and how one thing I regret is that my children never got to meet Ruth Browne. No my thoughts today went to the family that comes along with your in-laws. In my case, it is and was a great family. Obviously first there was Bob and Ruth Clarke both well beyond what you think of as normal in-laws. But then there are their brothers and sisters and all the cousins. Ruth only had one brother Jim Browne. Let’s see he is a liberal Democrat, who runs, reads and listens to folk music, hum, wonder who I take after? Bob on the other had come from a large family, gigantic, to me, considering I’m an only child. He had five brothers and sisters. A brother Roy and sisters, Alma, Jean, Anita and Nancy. I just recently met Roy. He left for California after leaving high school. He’s a great guy who raised a great family on the West Coast. Of the sisters, I knew Alma the least, she died many years ago. Jean was a wonderful person and always the rock of the family, who took care of everyone, Nancy was and is the youngest child and well, she’s the youngest and was taken care of by all. She is also wonderful. Finally I come to the reason for this long ramble, Aunt Anita. What can I say? She was a “piece of work”, opinionated, slightly crazy, with a heart as “big as all outdoors”., with a big smile, that you can see at the top of this post! She would do anything for her family…. well actually, she’d have Uncle George do anything for her family! Sadly, Anita passed away last Saturday after fighting lung cancer for a while. Whenever I would see Anita or talk to her on the phone she would always make me feel good, she would always tell me how great a husband and father I was and how great my kids were, it was always good to hear! So. yeah, I was lucky in love and marriage to get not only a wonderful wife but a fantastic loving and caring “Family” that will now be missing a big part of that family – George, Suzanne, George, Brian and your families my heart goes out to you on the loss of a “one of a kind” wife, and mother and for me an Aunt-in-Law!
