She taught us to Smile

Mom (Tim’s Mom) passed on Sunday morning January 30th, 2022

A little tribute to her…Teri Matich

We had no idea when we were playing FOWLING together (pictured) that just two short weeks later she would be gone. We had plans. Plans to have sleepovers and movie nights and try new restaurants. She was enjoying our visits and loving the attention.. …..she even teased us the night before she passed and said …”I’m a pretty good actress you know, I probably don’t need all this attention!” We had no idea.

I mean she pushed cancer back in a corner and she lived big even with her diagnosis so when she showed a little sign of weakness …..I brought my calendar and clipboard to help us get our arms around all that we would need to do and know to rally and take care of this precious one, game on and then she just decided - that’s not how it is going to go - and she fell asleep, in my arms. Pause. Deep Breath. Ugh.

I’m so honored she picked me.

While Teri was small in body, she was always a big personality.  She came on the scene with a million questions and never sat down until you encouraged her over and over to do so!    I don’t think there was anything that she thought could not be done, where there is a will, there is a way. Always so strong and mighty. Her boys come by that honestly!

 I met Teri when I was 15 years old…. A young naïve teen who was head over heels for her son.  I have never met someone who used words better than her, a lot of words and BIG words – like ones that I don’t even understand what they mean….. LOL …..she had a way of making you feel so good, Whether it was my new hairstyle or trending new fashion I was going for, my attempt at homemaking or the recipes I was trying out as a young wife and mother…. She ALWAYS ALWAYS made me feel like I was amazing. The best of the best.   Her responses were consistently ….

“Wow, wow, wow Gina Marie… you have really out done yourself TO----DAY…” with a big PRESENT smile. 

Shortly after my Mom passed away she started calling me her daughter, she would hesitate to see how it hit me, but it felt really good to me, and she could tell.  She tried so hard to love me so well. 

She really had a great sense of humor – and one memory that will stick with me forever was when Livia and I went to her house to help her pick out an outfit for Devin and Kiersten’s wedding.  She trotted up and down her hallway no less than a dozen times with different dresses and shoes on and all the while… she was saying things… like… “ man , do I look good, okay?  I mean really….look at me…. Like I look so Good!” and we would agree – for sure.   Just last week when I was in the bathroom with her, she looked into the mirror - “well, I look pretty darn good – okay… ”  I know she did that for me,  – she wanted to see me smile.

Many have said, her smile was contagious…… and what is so sweet about that is that I knew she was self-conscience about her smile and her teeth … and at times would try to keep her lips together for pictures and such….  I actually related to her on that since I don’t have perfect teeth …and sometimes I hold back a full smile…. but I have to tell you that – …….along the way - she stopped holding back… and instead she brought it home every single time with a power punch and SHE LIT UP THE ROOM with her full-on smile and it became contagious.   

I’ve thought about it a lot lately and I have to say – I am so very grateful that she stopped holding back and start smiling big.  It has inspired me.

I want to live my life smiling big, like Mom did.

No more reserved, half smiles… there’s really no time for that….

No more holding back… it’s time to SMILE.

THANK YOU, MOM, FOR INSPIRING US TO REALLY SMILE.

I already miss you.  I’m picturing you in heaven now and …..

Wow, Wow, Wow….. do you ever loooook good!!!  

But I know – you already know that. 😉

I’ll see you soon.

G