<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto"><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Although my Mom was never alone (having been happily married for sixty years at the time of her passing), the relationship depicted in this poem struck home.</span><br><br><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Seeya 'round town, Moscow, because . . .</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"Moscow Cares"</span></div><div><a href="http://www.moscowcares.com/" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><font color="#000000">http://www.MoscowCares.com</font></a></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span></div><div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Tom Hansen</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Moscow, Idaho</span></div></div></div><div><br>On May 12, 2016, at 6:20 AM, Tom Hansen <<a href="mailto:thansen@moscow.com">thansen@moscow.com</a>> wrote:<br><br></div><blockquote type="cite"><div><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><div>About a year ago I subscribed to "Poem of the Day", an online service.</div><div><br></div><div>Jus' like the morning newspaper, there'd be a poem waiting in my email in-box. Some were kinda humorous. Some were issue-oriented. Some were mushy. </div><div><br></div><div>Generally, I would read them, share them with my spouse, and delete them.</div><div><br></div><div>This morning's poem hit kinda hard. Although I consider it a few days late, it hits home as it relates to my mom, as well as many others' moms . . .</div><div><br></div><div>---------------------</div><div><br></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"You Mattered to Me" by Ruth Morris</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">You lived your life thinking that no one cared<br>You thought you were all alone, your heart feeling tattered<br>I am here to tell you that you were wrong<br>'Cause you see - Mom - to me you mattered<br><br>I loved you when you were angry and mean<br>I loved you when you were kind as could be<br>I loved you not just because I had to<br>I loved you because you mattered to me<br><br>It hurts to know that now you're gone<br>And never will your face again I see<br>I hurt not because I am supposed to<br>I hurt because you mattered to me<br><br>I have to live on each day without you<br>It doesn't get easier as it is supposed to be<br>I feel the loss of you to my very soul<br>Because you see - Mom - you mattered to me<br><br>Your touch, your smile, your funny wit<br>The times it was just you and me<br>I will miss you, Mom, with all my heart<br>'Cause you still matter to me...</span></div><div><br></div><div>--------------------------------</div><div><br><div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Seeya 'round town, Moscow, because . . .</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"Moscow Cares" </span></div><div><a href="http://www.moscowcares.com/" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><font color="#000000">http://www.MoscowCares.com</font></a></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span></div><div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Tom Hansen</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Moscow, Idaho</span></div></div><div><br></div></div></div></div></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><div><span>=======================================================</span><br><span> List services made available by First Step Internet,</span><br><span> serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.</span><br><span> <a href="http://www.fsr.net">http://www.fsr.net</a></span><br><span> <a href="mailto:Vision2020@moscow.com">mailto:Vision2020@moscow.com</a></span><br><span>=======================================================</span></div></blockquote></body></html>