Meet My Mom, Debbie
Deborah Elaine Suter, my mom, was born in San Diego, CA in 1951. Her father was Milan M. Suter, whom I never met. Her mother was Joyce VanOrmer Suter Agans. She was young in this picture and seeing her at this age reminds me a lot of my daughter, Amelia.
My mom had a fairly normal childhood from what I know. Her teen years were interesting I am sure. It had to be interesting growing up in the 1960s with the cultural and political changes. I know that like many teens she struggled with her parents. I never remember talking about her dad at all and rarely about her mom.
What I know about my mom starts when she met my dad in Galesburg, IL. I remember hearing from my mom that she didn’t really like living in Galesburg. It was a small sleepy town in Illinois. I think she was looking for a way out. I sure wish I would have asked more questions growing up. I heard someone once say that we don't ask those questions as kids because we think our parents will always be there.
There were three things that I remember my mom loving- cooking, plants, and music.
She had an immense love of cooking. She liked to try new foods and flavors. My dad’s family always talks fondly of culinary prowess. Her lasagna was a Keener family favorite, remembered by my Grandma O’Brien and many uncles and aunts. As a nine-year-old living in Elko, NV, I remember my mom trying new recipes and searching the local grocery stores for items like coriander (we were never able to find it) to complete her recipes. I truly feel like she was happiest when she was in the kitchen.
Music was the key to her soul. Many families in the 70s grew up watching tv, we grew up listening to music. She would listen to music when cleaning the house, feeling sad, getting ready for a night out, or any time for that matter. Some of her favorite artists were Dr. Hook, Little Riverband, Pat Benetar, Tina Turner, Rod Stewart, and Janis Joplin. The tone and subject of the music was in direct relation to how she was feeling and what she was going through at the time.
Our homes were always filled with plants growing up. Whether hanging from macrame or sitting on a window sill, Debbie loved plants. She had the proverbial green thumb. While most people who love plants find the joy in and out of the house. I found my mom was most happy with house plants. She loved ferns and spider plants the most. I wish I had pictures of the living rooms of our childhood homes they felt more like the jungle with mom’s love of plants.
My mom took good care of herself. She loved to change hairstyles and reimagine herself. Looking back, I think she did much of this to try and get out of her real life. She had dreams of bigger things that she kept deep in her heart. I discovered later in life that my mom fought mental illness, bipolar disorder. This was challenging and carried with it such a stigma. She did her best to hide it.
This is my mom on her wedding day, December 9, 1970. Full of happiness and hope.
