Mary Julia Abraham Tribute

It seems just a few months ago, not a year when the Lord took you into His embrace. You know that we still talk about you, the happy times we had whenever you were around and the happy times we will have when we see you again!. Today is truly the celebration of your life Mary. We pray for your family to be strong and to once again come together as a family with love and respect for one another, to cease the hurting . They had a walk today in Buffalo in memory of the 3407 crash and Mary Ellen's phone has been ringing off the hook from well wishers and friends who continue to give her friendship and love. But ofcourse you know all this! Your Christmas cactus is ready to bloom all over, we are watching it every day, counting the buds. I know you and Dad get along just fine, and that you were there to welcome Uncle Buster last week. He loved the casinos too and loved life to it's fullest. His celebration of life was so uplifting for us, anedotes from relatives and friends. We have our light on outside now as many do in Buffalo have for the memory to light the way. I love you Mary, I miss you very much. Oh, Mary Ellen just came in and told me she was on the phone with Barb and George, to share in a dedication for you, Mary Ellen looked up to the star (you know the one that changes colors) and they rang the gong 50 times and shot off the shotguns! I thank this wonderful couple who has been such a strength for her and we intend to stay friends with them forever. Well dear heart, I know you are smiling down on us tonight as you always do.

It has been a year since we last talked and I miss the last phone call of the day from you.I miss your smiling face in the window as I drove up the driveway.You were a sight for sore eyes.I was greeted with a kiss and Geneva on a leash.I was only happy to accomodate and so happy to be home with you. I never thought I could feel the way I do-We pledged our love for eternity.I looked in your eyes-now you are all I see.I see your face before I fall asleep and every heartbeat tells me I have found my soulmate.We were lost in the whirlwind of only us.The hours seemed like minutes as the years would pass.My love for you will forever burn in my mind,my soul-to FORGET is IMPOSSIBLE! I will always love you because I felt the Love that NEVER died. You made my heart race with your smile,the nights you craved cocoa puffs at 12 midnight,popsickle toes and you punctuating the air " Bear-Come up and put lotion on my back please."The comfort of your presence,the warm spring flowers we planted,the motorcycle rides on the back as you tugged my hand so proudly..My Girl-Love my Girl,the cold winter nights doing puzzles,Christmas morning (We left 2 gifts to open),Autumn bonfires and the trip to Lake Placid.Summer evenings on the front porch,when your laughter filled the air..priceless. Just before I go to bed tonight,I look out my window..See that one little shining star? Every time it Twinkles it's you saying I LOVE YOU AND MISS YOU AND I CAN'T WAIT UNTIL YOU ARE HERE WITH ME AGAIN. I have held many things in my hands and I have lost them all.But whatever I have placed in God's hands,that I still posess.My tears are in good keeping because I will see you again with "Joy." Believe it,Think it,Rest on it,It is all true.You cannot dimminish the size of our love because it Lives within me.Everything I have on earth..I have in Heaven too.You will always be the answer when someone asks me what I'm thinking about.
All My Love Until We Meet Again+
Bear (ME)

On May 30, 2009, The Tennessee. Alabama and Georgia Motor Maids will incorporate their Spring ride with a tribute ride for Mary Abraham. They begin at Rainbow Center on May 29th, arriving in Leeds, Alabama at Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum on May 30th and finishing on May 31st at Cave Springs, Georgia. We have been notified that the Motor Maids of Tennessee and Alabama have donated a book about Greyhound Rescue to the West Seneca Library in Mary's memory. Red arm bands will be worn (Mary's favorite color) in lieu of black to celebrate Mary's passion and joy of riding. At Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum, Mary's significant other, my sister, Mary Ellen Madden and myself will be at the museum to welcome the droves of riders. We will be bringing a collage of pictures and a "Mary Memory" book for all to sign. Mary Ellen has been asked to speak at the luncheon. This will be an exciting event to meet these gals, some who met Mary and others who will be honoring a fellow Motor Maid. The tribute ride was Mary Ellen's idea. We hope that more rides will continue in Mary's memory. The museum's site is Barbermuseum.org.

I first met Mary when I lived in Hannibal, New York, and my sister Mary Ellen brought Mary over to the house. We hit it off right away when she and I talked about my two passions, cooking and dogs. As I got to know her, I saw within her the fire and determination in what ever she tackled. I saw a lot of her, in me, when I worked a career that took you all over and the stress you were under but just kept going because that's what you do. When Mary and my sister called me from Buffalo and spoke about house renovations, going on trips and things in general, I always felt so good to know that they were happy, they were living a good life, making plans. When I still lived in New York, Mary and Mary Ellen came over to show me their custom rings that were made. I was so happy for them, they were so much in love. Mary flew all over the US for her job. She flew in Birmingham last year and drove up to Huntsville for work and stay with Mom and I. We went out to eat, talked away between Mary's getting up at 5:30am and working every day. On Thanksgiving Mary and Mary Ellen flew in and stayed with my sister Debbie and her family. What a great time we had. Mary and Mary Ellen also came over to my house with Mary asking me where my list of "to do things" were and she started in. Took down a broken cabinet and replaced a new one in Mom's bathroom, fixed a leak in my bathroom shower (she said she remembered it from staying with us), moved my guest bedroom furniture around and was like a nonstop tornado of fixing this and that. Mary was a doer, get'er done gal. When my sister told me that she was buying a motorcycle, I was at first a little apprehensive, but Mary assured me that she would have Mary Ellen take a course, watch over her and be with her every step of the way and so I knew at that point, Mary Ellen would be safe. Isn't that what you do in a relationship? Keep each other safe? On New Years, Mary Ellen called Mom and I and said they both were just staying in, having a comfortable New Years together. When Mary's birthday came, Mom and I each sent her a card. I remember Mom and I at Hallmark, taking a long time to select the perfect card for our wonderful Mary. I have met a lot of people in my life and I can say that Mary Abraham left me as a better person. Thank you Mary and I know you are still with us, looking over us and I promise I will also keep Mary Ellen "safe" as you would. I love you as a sister. Thank you for being in our lives.
Carol