Saturday, August 7, 2010

Weekend mornings...

Saturday and sunday mornings are tougher than I thought they would be.

Mom used to call me by 10am... If I didn't call her first. Oh...she would ALSO call every day between 4pm and 6pm. EVERY DAY. : ) It was her habit....and as many times as I tried to change it, couldn't be done. No matter how many times I told her that my life was NOT that interesting...that nothing happened.. didn't matter. She was just trying to keep connected to me and my life. I see it now...at the time, I didn't.

The weekend morning calls were the ones that were more interesting....we'd get into discussions on religion, politics, relationships...all the good stuff. Along with the minute details that make up a life well lived. We'd talk about all the adventures I wanted to take...all the adventures she didn't take...but sometimes wished she had.

so now...I just have the conversation in my head....it's not as satisfying....but it goes something like this..

"hey mom....what's up? yeah? it's that quiet? well....play some of your favorite Elvis tunes...shake things up a bit!! Ohhh...I don't think he'd mind...I'm sure God has a great sense of rhythm.... or better yet...play some Def Leppard!! (laughs) ok..maybe not. Yeah, Russ is doing ok...he misses you a lot...we all do..

NO...we're all fine, mom. Really. It was your time!! It's what was best. Me?? oh..things are good.. NOOOOO, I'm not seeing anyone seriously.... PUHLEEZE!! who would put up with me?? (laughs) eh...stop with the worrying...I'm just gonna do my adventures...and the right guy will either come along...or he won't..either way...I'll live the life I want..right? Nope...not a regret at all. I have a great network of friends...it's not like it used to be.

Well...yeah...sometimes I miss having someone around...but for the most part...I don't mind being alone! No..REALLY! I've always been like that...you know that! Give me a good book to read and a couch to snuggle into and I'm fine. and then there's my motorcycle... Don'T start!! YES.....I'm very careful!! I promise... oh...you have to go now? Einstein invited you to play scrabble?? seriously?? Don't let him cheat you again!! take the dictionary!! yes...I love you too... "

or....something like that. : )

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

The story of "love you forever"

If you notice....on the things I've written about my mom, Sandy, I usually finish with this phrase:
"I love you forever, I'll like you for always, forever and ever, my mommy you'll be"

There is a story behind it.

A Loooong time ago...in a far away land called ROXANA, my younger sister worked in a daycare center. As part of her workday she would read to the children, often letting them choose the book. One of the books that they loved to hear was " I love you forever". it's a very simple little book and it tells a great story. I urge ALL PARENTS TO GET THIS BOOK!! NOW.

It tells the story of a young mother with her first child. she brings the baby home...and as she rocks her son to sleep she croons...."I love you forever, I'll like you for always, forever and ever, my baby you'll be".

As the child grows, she continues this tradition..even when he's two years old..and he drives her crazy...she still rocks him to sleep with......"I love you forever, I'll like you for always, forever and ever, my baby you'll be".

Even when he's a teenager..and a brat...and she can't stand him and he can't stand her.... she waits till he's asleep..and she hugs him and whispers......"I love you forever, I'll like you for always, forever and ever, my baby you'll be".

and when he goes to college...and he has his own place....and he's freaking out over finals...she drives across town...and she waits till he's asleep..hugs him and whispers......"I love you forever, I'll like you for always, forever and ever, my baby you'll be".

and then..the mother is very old...and is in a nursing home..and the MAN that the baby has become drives to the nursing home and visits his mother...and HE holds her and he whispers.... ...."I love you forever, I'll like you for always, forever and ever, my mama, you'll be".

and then...he goes home...and he picks up HIS new baby girl...and he picks her up..and rocks her to sleep...and he says......."I love you forever, I'll like you for always, forever and ever, my baby you'll be".

when I had Caitlin.....my mother bought this book for me.....and I've lost it now..but I intend to get it back. For mother's day a few years back....my sister and I bought it for mom...

when we were looking for something for mom to wear to her funeral....we found the book...and we took turns inscribing it...with our own messages...and she rests with it now.

and we truly do.

...."love her forever, I'll like her for always, forever and ever, our mama, she'll be".