Mother's day was special for me this year. Through the death of my father I came to realize the role my mother played not only in the lives of her children (myself, my brother and my two younger sisters), but also in her husband's life. My mother was born in 1926; this was the last year for the G.I. Generation (born 1901-1926 according to the book "The Generational Imperative" by Chuck Underwood). He defines the G.I. Generation as follows: "They saved the world and then built a nation.  The most revered generation on the planet.  The most fascinating generation on the planet.  Their Depression was The Great One; their war was The Big One; their prosperity was the legendary Happy Days.  Assertive and energetic do'ers.  Humble.  Honest.  Excellent team players.  Community-minded and patriotic."  This is an accurate description of my mother, and this part of her character influences me to this day.  In fact, it's what drew me to get involved with the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay.   

During this time of trying to understand my father every time I analyzed a situation he was in or a decision he made in his life, there was my mother's stamp all over it. I was fortunate that I worked with my dad for 25 years providing professional services. During that time we had differences but we always worked them out. In reflection, I realize those "work outs" were engineered by my mother. She was the foundation that allowed him to take the biggest risk of his life in 1956 when he opened his own office providing professional services. She not only worked as his assistant, secretary, and bookkeeper, she also tended to three young children. I can remember the red box with 15 compartments where weekly she would save the cash for each bill that would be due that month. The utility bill in one, the phone bill another, haircuts, groceries, insurance, cash would be divided up by the week into each category and saved. It was at her insistence that we all be educated in private schools. She managed every penny to make sure all was paid.

Did we realize the level of diligence that was needed to accomplish this?  Absolutely not, we all lived our lives without worry or concern.  We had breakfast every morning, money for lunch at school, and dinner was at 6 every evening without fail.  

"Without fail"... failure was not an option and was not in her vocabulary.  Commitments were not something you could rationalize your way out of. "Do the hard things first and the easy stuff falls into place".  If I heard that once, I heard it every day of my life from my Mother.  

Even today, my Mother is the core of our family with daughters-in-law, sons-in-law, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  She worries about each one of them and prays for them each night. Thank you Mother for character bestowed on us though your shear will.

The Crisis Center is an organization that encompasses my mother's values.  Counselors, Case Managers, EMT's, Crisis Specialists, Advocates, and Care Coordinators all stick by people until they receive the tools they need to get through their crisis. The Crisis Center doesn't just apply a band aid to crisis, but is in it for the long haul to help those in need. "Failure is not an option" and the Crisis Center is there 24/7 providing help, hope and healing to people when they need it most!