Mrs. Gump: A Mother for the Ages

Forrest said of his mother, “Momma always had a way of explaining things so I could understand them.” Here are some such quotations, often repeated by Forrest rather than directly heard from his mother: “My momma always said…”

“Life is a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.”

This was ranked as #40 in the American Film Institute’s list of the top 100 movie quotations in American cinema.

“You can tell a lot about a person by their shoes, where they go, where they’ve been.”

Spoken by Forrest as he admires the shoes of a woman sitting at a bus stop.

“Stupid is as stupid does.”

Repeated by Forrest several times when asked if he is stupid, first by Jenny.

“Miracles happen every day.”

Spoken by Forrest before he describes to the lady at the bus stop how his leg braces fell off.

“Sometimes we all do things that, well, just don’t make no sense.”

Forrest explains that this is why Mrs. Gump named him “Forrest” after General Nathan Bedford Forrest, early leader of the KKK.

“There’s only so much fortune a man really needs and the rest is just for showing off.”

Forrest cites this as the reason he donated a large portion of his shrimping fortune to the Foursquare Gospel Church, Bayou La Batre Fishing Hospital, and Bubba’s mother.

“Death is just a part of life.”

Said by Mrs. Gump on her deathbed, and reiterated by a tearful Forrest as he speaks to Jenny’s grave. “I sure wish it wasn’t.”

Pauline Phillips (Abigail Van Buren): She Was Dear Abby

Rest in peace, Pauline Phillips (July 4, 1918 — January 16, 2013).

She wrote the Dear Abby advice column, where her advice was sometimes sassy or snappy. Her pseudonym, “Abigail Van Buren”, was very unique, and I remember reading some of her columns while wearing a grin on my face. Sadly, Pauline died on Wednesday, January 16, 2013, at the age of 94. From my perspective, her battle with Alzheimer’s disease was one that she fought bravely until the end, and she lived a great life while using the talents God had given her. 

Thankfully, she is survived by her daughter, Jeanne Phillips, who said, “My mother leaves very big high heels to fill with a legacy of compassion, commitment and positive social change. I will honor her memory every day.” Jeanne took over the column in 2002, after her mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.

I will miss her as well. She famously dispensed intimate guidance to readers around the globe on everything from cheating spouses to intrusive in-laws. She also was an equal champion for the rights of women, minorities and people who were mentally ill or had physical disabilities.