Mondays with Mike: No mother-in-law jokes from me

June 9, 2014 • Posted in Flo, guest blog, Mike Knezovich, Mondays with Mike, Uncategorized by

Beth writes often about her mom, Flo — most recently this past mother’s day.

This past Saturday, Flo had visitors from Ohio, Delaware, Michigan and Florida.

This past Saturday, Flo had visitors from Ohio, Delaware, Michigan and Florida.

Flo spent that day at a rehabilitation facility, where she has been getting geared up to move into her new assisted living apartment. Flo has yet to make it into her new digs — but she’s working on it.

She’s had a series of setbacks, and at 98 years old, well, every setback gets us all — the legion of Finke children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, friends and in-laws like me —- worried, concerned, anxious, teary-eyed. She’s bounced back so many times that for me, considering the possibility that she won’t again feels a little like what I imagine a taser to feel. Stunned dumb.

I lost my own mother 23 years ago. I’ve known Flo now for more than 30. My mom had absolutely nothing in common with Flo. At least not on the surface. As I think about it though, they both had known some serious hardship, and were forced to fairly claw for survival at points in their lives. Flo lost her husband when she was 45, had six kids at home, had no job and only part of a high school education. My mom’s first husband was in a horrible oil refinery fire in Bakersfield, Calif., just before Christmas in 1952. He survived a couple agonizing weeks, and then died — leaving my mom Esther, just turning 30 about then, with a 6-month-old daughter, thousands of miles from her own family.

My mom, well, it’d take a lot more than a blog to cover that little fireplug. Whatever our difficulties were though, I always knew I could count on Esther if my back was against the wall. I think it’s because she’d been there.

It’s been that way with Flo and me, too. Through all of the tribulations Beth and I faced, the question people immediately asked me most often was, quite reasonably, “How’s Beth?” “How’s Gus?” For as long as I can remember, though, Flo always asked, every time she saw me, “How are you, Mike?” She worried out loud that I looked tired (I did). I drove too much (I did).

Of course she was worried about her daughter, too. But I got the feeling that, looking at me, she saw someone in over his head — exactly as she had been years ago — and that she knew what that meant and wanted me to know: She was in my corner.

Right now I, and what I would estimate to be around a 1,000 members of Finke nation, are in hers.

Therapists of various stripes are on the case, and Flo’s working hard. But it’s not all work and no play. She lights up when visitors enter. She’s enjoyed the fantastic weather of the past few days. She tells everyone how good they look and how much she loves them. And she just got her nails done. When asked how long it took them to do her nails, she said, “98 years.” It was her first mani.

See you in your new place, Flo.

 

 

Hank On June 9, 2014 at 11:09 am

Nice post, Mike. Give my best to Flo, please.

Mike On June 9, 2014 at 11:34 am

Thanks Hank, and we will give her your best. She asks about you guys, and still remembers her visit to your place.

Nancy On June 9, 2014 at 3:26 pm

Wow, Mike. 98 years for her first mani- what a comeback line. Well deserved a million times over…maybe a pedi in her future
too? She looks amazing in that photo, and sounds, from all I have read and heard, like an amazing woman. And fortunate to have you as a son-in-law.

Mike On June 10, 2014 at 3:45 pm

Yeah, she was happy to finally get outside. Thanks Nancy.

Pick On June 9, 2014 at 5:18 pm

Great article about a great woman and a great family. Love to all, Pick

Nancy B On June 9, 2014 at 9:59 pm

What a great post, Mike.

Monna Ray On June 10, 2014 at 10:32 am

Thanks Mike.

Monna

Mike On June 10, 2014 at 3:46 pm

Thanks for reading Monna.

Zen On June 10, 2014 at 11:52 pm

Amazing for a son-in law to write about A mother-in-law!

Deborah Darsie On June 15, 2014 at 7:43 pm

Flo sounds like an amazing woman and I hope she continues her transition to her own space.
I love the tone of what you wrote about her…clearly a well loved & respected lady.

Benita On June 26, 2014 at 2:05 pm

This is being written after having learned of Flo’s passing last week. Mike, what you have written here is (inadvertently) the loveliest memorial tribute: unsentimentalized yet full of real sentiment.

How lucky you were to have had each other!

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