Happy Mother’s Day

It’s Mother’s Day

Only this year, 2020, some mothers will be missing their families. They are stuck in isolation, unable to enjoy the presence of their families. Flowers and candy are lovely, but it’s not as warm and cozy as having their loved ones surrounding them.

Others may be missing Moms who have gone on the way of their ancestors. Some memories are sweet. Others more difficult. But mothers still hold warm places in our hearts.

To my Mom

Thank you for listening, from the time I was small (chatting under the bathroom door) to just the other day.

Thank you for defending me when I was in the eighth grade. You validated me.

Thank you for making holidays special. You taught my sisters and me not to quit when life got tough. There is always something to see under the darkness:

Like tables set festively, waiting for a scrumptious turkey dinner. And for Nanna to arrive.

Like decorating our house for all the holidays of the year. Life can be stressful, dull, chaotic, disappointing, sometimes exciting, fun, celebratory: all these things. You lifted our family out of the ordinary, as seasons changed, with special touches of color (and glitz) throughout the house. It gave us a love of the beautiful to surround us, especially when life throws darkness around.

Thank you for going with me on a birthday, some years ago, to a jewelry store where I got dazzled. My consequences went long, but they were pretty!

Thank you for a thirst to learn. And a love of history.

Thank you for anticipation to explore new places. See new things. (Like Charlie Chaplin’s summer home in Ireland!)

Then hurtling up and down the Rogue River, Oregon, in a Jet boat with several of your daughters and sons-in-law. What a wet, wild ride THAT was!

And finally, thank you for Thursday nights. Dinner and watching “our shows” is just the warm and cozy good time to be together.

I love you, Mom. Happy Mother’s Day.