Photo by Lindsay Caudle, TexAgs
Linda's Story: Memories of motherhood & Texas A&M fandom
Linda never intended to become a rabid Texas A&M football fan, but really didn’t have a choice.
She was a mother. Mothers often adopt their children’s interests through osmosis. A mom with no interest in baseball will begin discussing RBIs and ERAs once their children start playing.
Linda was no different. So, when her second son began following the Aggies she did, too.
During that amazing 2012 season she became enthralled with the exploits of Johnny Manziel. That year she began planning autumn weekends around A&M football games.
She’d phone me each week to ask when the Aggies kicked off and on what channel the game would air.
If told the Aggies had an open date her response was typically “Crap” … or some variation of it.
That routine continued every week for the last four seasons.
It won’t continue this season.
Her weight has plunged to less than 80 pounds. She’s dependent on a long list of medications and inhalers to get through each day. Hospice nurses visit her home in Sherman two or three times a week.
She’s accepted that her time is nearing an end. Her three sons have accepted it, too.
But how does one prepare for the devastation and terrible sadness that comes with losing someone so wonderful?
When her health began to rapidly deteriorate she was invited to live at her son’s home in College Station. She declined. She didn’t want to be a burden.
Mothers are amazing that way. They give so much and ask so little. They sacrifice in ways big and small.
We all have wonderful memories about our mothers. We all can relate stories about their amazing sacrifices and awesome expressions of love.
A few years ago a TexAgs subscriber with the username “Texasaggie03” shared this story in a response to an article about the Aggie ring:
Mom was like that.
Many years ago she took a second job to earn extra money. She could’ve bought a new dress or new shoes or trips to a day spa.
Instead, she bought an air hockey table. It was a gift for my 12th birthday.
There are so many other memories, too.
Like how she attended every White Oak High School football game my senior year. Notes of encouragement and praise were left on my pillow every Friday night.
Or when I was in first grade and pleaded almost daily for permission to walk home from school by myself. She finally relented, but during that walk I happened to glance over my shoulder just in time to see her duck behind a tree.
She watched out for me in greater ways than that, though.
TexAgs
Linda Robison embodied a mother's strength and caring — but she also came to rival a true Aggie's passion for Texas A&M football.
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She was involved in a physically abusive marriage for 15 years, but never spoke poorly of my father. She did not want me to know my idol was so flawed. I didn’t learn about the abuse until I was in my 30s.
Despite all she endured, she always had an amazing spirit and fun-loving personality. She loved laughing, cooking, slot machines and bingo.
And, of course, she grew to love Aggie football — quite literally — with all her heart.
That was evident when she had heart surgery early last October.
After the procedure, her husband phoned to update me on her status. When she realized he was talking to me she reached out with a frail left hand for the phone.
Then, in a weak voice she asked:
“What channel will the Aggies game be on?”
A&M was open that week.
“Crap,” she whispered.
She was a mother. Mothers often adopt their children’s interests through osmosis. A mom with no interest in baseball will begin discussing RBIs and ERAs once their children start playing.
Linda was no different. So, when her second son began following the Aggies she did, too.
During that amazing 2012 season she became enthralled with the exploits of Johnny Manziel. That year she began planning autumn weekends around A&M football games.
She’d phone me each week to ask when the Aggies kicked off and on what channel the game would air.
If told the Aggies had an open date her response was typically “Crap” … or some variation of it.
That routine continued every week for the last four seasons.
It won’t continue this season.
When her health began to
rapidly deteriorate she was invited to live at her son’s home in College
Station. She declined. She didn’t want to be a burden. Mothers are
amazing that way. They give so much and ask so little.
Seventy-five years have taken a toll. Her body has turned frail. She was given three months to live. That was 15 months ago. She’s fought a courageous fight, but can’t fight much longer.Her weight has plunged to less than 80 pounds. She’s dependent on a long list of medications and inhalers to get through each day. Hospice nurses visit her home in Sherman two or three times a week.
She’s accepted that her time is nearing an end. Her three sons have accepted it, too.
But how does one prepare for the devastation and terrible sadness that comes with losing someone so wonderful?
When her health began to rapidly deteriorate she was invited to live at her son’s home in College Station. She declined. She didn’t want to be a burden.
Mothers are amazing that way. They give so much and ask so little. They sacrifice in ways big and small.
We all have wonderful memories about our mothers. We all can relate stories about their amazing sacrifices and awesome expressions of love.
A few years ago a TexAgs subscriber with the username “Texasaggie03” shared this story in a response to an article about the Aggie ring:
I could not afford my ring when it was time for me to get it. I tried to save for it, but every time I got close something else would go wrong. I had a tire blow out one time, my AC go out another, and so on. I finally resigned to the idea that I would just have to wait until after I graduated and probably after I payed off my student loans to get my ring.
I never said anything to anyone about any of this, including my mom. But on the morning before my graduation I got a call from her telling me that I needed to be at the Association of Former Student's building first thing in the morning before the ceremony. Sure enough, the next morning about one hour before my graduation ceremony I finally got my Aggie ring as a gift from my mom. I'll never forget what that feeling was like. At the time my mom was having trouble even keeping her electricity on due to a series of hardships including a divorce and losing her job.
I never said anything to anyone about any of this, including my mom. But on the morning before my graduation I got a call from her telling me that I needed to be at the Association of Former Student's building first thing in the morning before the ceremony. Sure enough, the next morning about one hour before my graduation ceremony I finally got my Aggie ring as a gift from my mom. I'll never forget what that feeling was like. At the time my mom was having trouble even keeping her electricity on due to a series of hardships including a divorce and losing her job.
Mom was like that.
Many years ago she took a second job to earn extra money. She could’ve bought a new dress or new shoes or trips to a day spa.
Instead, she bought an air hockey table. It was a gift for my 12th birthday.
There are so many other memories, too.
Like how she attended every White Oak High School football game my senior year. Notes of encouragement and praise were left on my pillow every Friday night.
Or when I was in first grade and pleaded almost daily for permission to walk home from school by myself. She finally relented, but during that walk I happened to glance over my shoulder just in time to see her duck behind a tree.
She watched out for me in greater ways than that, though.
TexAgs
Linda Robison embodied a mother's strength and caring — but she also came to rival a true Aggie's passion for Texas A&M football.
{"Module":"photo","Alignment":"right","Size":"large","Caption":"Linda Robison embodied a mother\u0027s strength and caring — but she also came to rival a true Aggie\u0027s passion for Texas A\u0026M football.","MediaItemID":71659}
Despite all she endured, she always had an amazing spirit and fun-loving personality. She loved laughing, cooking, slot machines and bingo.
And, of course, she grew to love Aggie football — quite literally — with all her heart.
That was evident when she had heart surgery early last October.
After the procedure, her husband phoned to update me on her status. When she realized he was talking to me she reached out with a frail left hand for the phone.
Then, in a weak voice she asked:
“What channel will the Aggies game be on?”
A&M was open that week.
“Crap,” she whispered.
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