Mom Lived Life on Her Terms - Chet Nakada

I feel like this service should have been at St Francis in Bend or at a catholic church somewhere but times changed, she changed. The tables have turned a bit. I know she had a similar feeling 17 summers ago when my wife Holly and I were married in an outdoor ceremony in Hilo, Hawaii by a Buddhist priest. I could feel her unease at the rehearsal for the ceremony but she kept her opinion to herself. Cmon, this is my first born, an altar boy, went to St Francis elementary, all those children's masses, the holidays, Easters Christmases, but...she kept her opinion to herself.

Keeping her opinion to herself was tough for mom. Often you didn't have to ask it. She freely gave it freely. Almost always she was right. 

I noticed how hard she worked about keeping her opinion to herself with parenting. I know that was really hard for her. She really tried to give her opinion only if asked. I could tell when she had something to say but respected me and then privately we would have a chat. 

She had an unreal work ethic and was a tireless mother. For mother's day we got her a license plate frame that said "supermom"

Her updated license plate frame should have been supergrandma. Saying she loved her grandkids is a vast understatement. Held all five of them on their birthdays. Hugs, notes, books, phone calls, face timing, watching games. I know you won't forget them Nicole, Trejan Quinn, Paige and Kiara. We have plenty of pictures and memories.

We only heard stories about the 1965 Dodge Dart. A good solid car but the fleet car for LA water and Power where she worked. She didn't buy the 1965 Mustang because her skiis wouldn't fit in the trunk. Not the price but the trunk was too small. She loved that Dart but the other cars in Bend would break down.

She couldn't sing on key. She loved music and singing out loud to music but she could not carry a tune. I inherited this unfortunate trait.

Mom lived her life on her terms. She tried to take control over what she could control. After 14 years of skiing with four kids she had enough. Lost gloves, broken goggles, boots that were too tight or too loose, getting fully dressed and ready to go on the lift and then one had to go to the bathroom, and then another, finally she said enough. She quit. Cold turkey, never going back. She made lunch for us and that was it. She never looked back.

Mom lived life on her terms. She went back to school as a middle aged woman at COCC the community college in Bend. She started and finished with her masters from Portland State.

Mom lived life on her terms. She had some heart problems eight years ago. She lost weight, exercised, improved her health. 

Mom lived life on her terms. She put off this final surgery for months and months Laura Yukiko and I went to appointments with her. She wanted to improve her quality of life. She tired of being out of breath at her dance classes. She couldn't swim as far as she used to. Stairs were a problem. She made this final decision on her own. On her terms.   

Remember her laugh. Remember her smile. Remember her legacy, our beautiful family.