In fact, if Walter Cronkite were here right now I would give him a piece of my mind, because where does he get off telling me to suck it up when I miss my Mama and he had millions of adoring fans and all I'm asking for is one short, stubborn, red-haired woman?!
Way to ruin Mother's Day Walter Cronkite. Thanks a lot.
Anyway.
Walter kind of has a point, I guess, so instead of wallowing in self-pity and sadness I will share with you 3 things about Mama.
1. She was a voracious reader and could go through 2 or 3 books in a week. My earliest memories are of the library, crawling around the Children's section looking for Dr. Seuss while she pulled books of the shelf like the library was on fire; always checking out the maximum amount allowed. I stood by in awe with my slim volumes while she held an armload of books that seemed bigger than her.
2. She taught me the importance of looking at things from the other person's point of view. I remember coming home from school and complaining to her about how some kid was mean to me or smelled like pickles and her first response was always to ask why I thought the kid was mean, maybe I had provoked it? Or maybe the pickle kid came from a poor family and couldn't afford non-pickle-smelling soap. I hated then, but it really made an impression on me and I think it has given me more empathy as an adult.
3. She was smart about money and finances. And it was all self-taught. She grew up in age where not much was expected (or allowed) of women, where men handled the money and made the decisions and the women-folk took care of the babies. But she not only had good common sense, she had the financial acumen to make good investments with her hard earned money. She taught me everything I know about money and instilled in me a sense of power over my own future by handling money wisely.
No one loves you like your mama. If yours is still around, hug her good.
I don't care how old you get, you always need your Mom.
ReplyDeleteNow you made me all teary.
So true. *sigh*
DeleteLet's talk about something else! How about those Mets? I hear they are gonna win the Superbowl this year!
You must be my mother because you taught me all the same things!
ReplyDeleteHa! I expect a Mother's Day present next year, then. Preferably cash and definitely cake.
DeleteDon't forget to wear clean underpants and wash behind your ears young man!
Sounds like your mom was a really great mom. :)
ReplyDeleteShe was. Except when she wanted me to wear lipstick, then she got on my nerves. But otherwise she was pretty great.
Deletesounds like you had a good one.
ReplyDeletemine...even when she was there...she wasn't.
i might have a thing or two to learn still...
OH and happy belated mother's day...to Jas's mom.
DeleteThank you! That ingrate didn't so much as get me a card. ;)
DeleteThis post is just lovely - I'm going to go hug my mom now (she's downstairs, raising my children for me, because she's awesome like that and better at mothering than I am).
ReplyDeleteThank you. I deabted even doing a Mother's Day post because:
DeleteA: it seemed cheesy, and
B: I am normally against fake holidays forced on us by Big Hallmark
But dangit I miss her and even though she wasn't perfect and the end was hard, she could be pretty awesome sometimes and I didn't tell her enough.
Stupid Hallmark!
Sounds like your Mama was a keeper - and she helped make you one, too. Your mom, my sis - dang, it hurts so much to lose someone you love.It's obvious, tho, that she's still with you through what you learned from her. The music is lovely - thanks for sharing. Remembering will help with the healing...
ReplyDeleteThanks Ladybug. Remembering does help and I am thiankful that I have more good memories than bad to focus on.
Delete