Yes, she’s still around, but I’ve been thinking about her a lot this week (even though she just came over tonight to bring me oranges for the cranberry chutney) and thinking of all she’s given me (and my brothers.)

1) Putting others first (okay, this is more my brothers than me)
When she started teaching, she said her students asked her why she only had one pair of shoes. Yet when I was graduating 8th grade, she made sure I had pretty blouses for the parties, pretty shoes, pretty combs for my hair.

2) Sewing (me, not my brothers),
because she didn’t have time to sew for both of us. I repaid her by working at Winns and spending my paycheck on 99 cent a yard fabric.

3) Crocheting (again, me)

4) Obsessive compulsion – if one’s good, three’s better, and if I want it, I want it NOW. (me and youngest brother)
This could be a genetic thing, though. My grandfather was the same way. We call each other when we get this way, like the other day when I bough NINE skeins of yarn.

5) Traditions (all of us),
like Christmas Eve and going to the Christmas lights and decorating the day after Thanksgiving, listening to Bing Crosby's Christmas album. More than I can think of now.

6) Family (all of us)
My youngest brother loves family get-togethers, weird for a 16 year old. I guess part is growing up essentially an only child, but having older siblings.

7) Love of children (all of us, I think. At least me and middle brother)
and a sense that I’m really helping when I go to work every day.

8) Love of food. (ALL OF US. Did I tell you about going to see the lights last week, eating like pigs at Clear Spring Café, then going to Starbucks AFTER?)
Though she actually likes to cook.

9) Love of home (all of us).
It’s so important for me to be here for my boy, important that the house looks pretty (while not always CLEAN)

10) Love of music (all of us).
She used to put records on in the den and clean. I grew up listening to Helen Reddy, Johnny Cash, Glen Campbell, Sonny and Cher. I don’t particularly like any of them, but I loved hearing Mom sing. She has a beautiful voice. She’d buy us Disney records, too. I knew all the stories by heart.

11) Love of TV/movies (all of us).
I know I’ve mentioned the times we snuggled together in the living room to watch shows. She loved cop shows best. Now she likes mysteries.

12) Love of books (all of us).
Even though she doesn’t read for pleasure, she always read to us, always had money for those wonderful Scholastic book orders.

13) Determination (all of us).
After her divorce, she finished her degree in 2 and a half years. She was determined to be a teacher, to have a job her kids could be proud of.

14) Memories.


There are things I know she wishes she’s given me, like a faith like hers. And I know she doesn’t understand my drive to write. But I’m still very lucky to have her.

I actually have two versions of salutes to my mom, and neither says exactly what I want to say. This one’s just a lot more to the point.

She may well kill me for this picture, but it’s the only one I have of us together. (Something else she passed down – the skill of avoiding a camera.)



I can’t post Gerry or Dermot with this ;) but I promise I have some good ones coming up, thanks to Michele (no, that’s not a link, or you’ll PEEK!)