Now, my mother, on the other hand. She had her 'always' things, too.

If the phone rang at 7 am it was her.

'Adopted' people around our small town and tried to make their lives better, but was disappointed when it didn't help.

Took dinner to neighbors who were sick or having a hard time.

Procrastinated on the drapery-making projects she undertook so she eventually ended up almost pulling an all-nighter to get it done.

Hated doing housework so hired a woman to come over and do dishes every day.

Made lists of things and wrote long letters on yellow legal pads at night.

Over committed so she had a hard time being on time or getting things done.

Found good deals at the thrift stores and had a big list of wholesale places she went to.

Loved to laugh and talk until late at night.

Hung wallpaper in all her rental properties and took on a huge project papering the local bank.

Got paint on all her clothes from painting the outsides.

Took a great interest in local politics.

Played practical jokes on people, such as throwing empty liquor bottles in the yard of an elderly relative who was bitchy to the family. (Funnier than it sounds.)

Hated wearing her glasses so sometimes had trouble seeing things.