This Just In ...
Kevin Fischer is a veteran broadcaster, the recipient of over 150 major journalism awards from the Milwaukee Press Club, the Wisconsin Associated Press, the Northwest Broadcast News Association, the Wisconsin Bar Association, and others. He has been seen and heard on Milwaukee TV and radio stations for over three decades. A longtime aide to state Senate Republicans in the Wisconsin Legislature, Kevin can be seen offering his views on the news on the public affairs program, "InterCHANGE," on Milwaukee Public Television Channel 10, and heard filling in on Newstalk 1130 WISN. He lives with his wife, Jennifer, and their lovely baby daughter, Kyla Audrey, in Franklin.
The Year of My Mother: Tears of Joy
"THE YEAR OF MY MOTHER" IS A YEAR-LONG SERIES OF BLOGS DEDICATED TO MY DEAR, SWEET MOM WHO DIED IN EARLY JANUARY OF THIS YEAR. I PLAN TO DEVOTE SPECIAL BLOGS THROUGHOUT 2010 TO MY MOM WITH SPECIAL REFLECTIONS AND MEMORIES THAT I HOPE WILL INSPIRE READERS AND CAPTURE THE TRUE SPIRIT AND CHARACTER THAT WAS THE GREATEST WOMAN I HAVE EVER KNOWN.
I very seldom am at a loss for words or speechless.
And yet, there I was, one year ago this evening, struggling to find a way to let the words come out.
My jewel of a wife, Jennifer had just given birth to our first child, a beautiful baby girl at 10:45 that night.
Tears flowed. Hugs and kisses abounded. Pictures were taken.
It happened all so fast and was so good and so smooth. I had no idea, at this stage in my life, that I could be so happy and so blessed.
And then, I knew what I wanted to do more than anything in the world.
Believe it or not, I am a man of good manners. I asked the nurses for permission to use the telephone.
And I dialed. Actually I punched.
If memory serves right, the phone rang but a half ring.
“Hello?” the excited voice said on the other end.
I could hardly reply. My voice trembled.
“Kyla Audrey Fischer…..
Pause.
"What?” my mother asked.
“Kyla Audrey Fischer....... was born..... at 10:45 this evening. You are a grandmother again, Mom.”
To be perfectly honest, I have no idea what was said next. My mother and I could not talk to one another, we were so overcome with joy. I was a father, a proposition I thought I’d never find myself involved in, and my mother had a granddaughter named after her.
For the next 9-plus months, my mother held, hugged, kissed, fed, touched, smiled at, laughed at, and loved baby Kyla.
And then suddenly, God wanted another angel in paradise. My mother was gone.
The days surrounding the funeral, Kyla, who I swear is very gifted, was not her usual happy self. It was as if she knew something was amiss.
Shortly after the funeral services were over, and loving relatives and friends went home, Kyla’s enthusiasm returned. It seemed as though my mother’s never-ending love and warm spirit found its way into her namesake. Our baby is constantly happy, charming, and smiling.
Thank you, Grandma!
My mother didn’t have a pretentious bone in her body. But she had an Irish pride as big as the solar system.
Jennifer and I never doubted we’d give our child an Irish name. Kyla, in Irish means, “Beauty that only poetry can capture.” In one word, Kyla means, “lovely.”
A great part of me wishes my mom, Audrey Fischer could be here to see all there is to see in the wonder that is a baby developing. There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t mourn the loss of my mother, think about her, and wish that she was here. My goodness, if she was alive she’d scold me for drawing attention to her.
But somehow I know she’s watching and is aware. My faith tells me my mother is alive and already influencing precious Kyla. If our little girl is half the woman my remarkable mother was, I will be the proudest father on the planet. Come to think of it, I already am.
I love you, Mom.
Yeh, Mom, they still take their shots at me. But you know what? It’s ok. It means very little. How can that small, petty stuff make a difference when I have so much in my life that makes me strong and happy.
Mom, I’m not perfect and never claimed to be. We need your help. Watch over us, guide us, protect us, and instill your motherly knowledge and expertise so that we can raise Kyla to be the smitten image of you.
Kyla, Mommy and Daddy love you very much. From the rock star treatment you get whenever we take you out, it appears you have quite the fan club.
Happy 1st birthday, sweetheart!
Mom, thank you for your inspiration.
And I think they call it prayer, Mom. I’ll just say, you know Mom, we’ll be talking.
1) God Bless You, Mom
2) Culinary no-no: The Audrey Fischer Edition
3) The Year of My Mother
4) The Year of My Mother - Jimmy Dean
5) The Year of My Mother - "The scarier the better."
6) The Year of My Mother: Erin Go Bragh
7) The Year of my Mother: Tears of Joy
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