Wednesday, August 7, 2013
My first memories are of Mom. Sweet Adeline’s singing by the piano; Ironing clothes for seven people in the days before permanent press; humming as she cooked; summer on the back porch at Cornell Ave. Her hair in curlers, talking on the kitchen phone.
She was in her thirties by the time I showed up, and had parenting to a science. Mom taught me about stars and rainbows, and that Ladybug’s are good luck. I still believe.
Mom was never as impressed with me as I was with myself, because she never really doubted me. Get over yourself. I loved how she could do that without saying a word.
She liked words and knew their meaning. Crosswords and Cryptograms were her diversions, she taught herself shorthand from a book. Mom was very smart.. and she was fond of planning. I think she liked the anticipation of change -noodling on the different possibilities was a creative outlet for her, and this manifested as major home redecorating events at least twice a year growing up. It wasn’t until I was on my own that I realized how special it was. I learned from her how to visualize things as I want them to be.
I loved how we could talk and laugh together so easily. There are a thousand things that make me feel her nearby, the smell of salt air, strawberry shortcake, violets and dogwoods. I will always love you Mom.
