Friday, July 24, 2009
Remembering Mom
Sometimes we get so busy with our lives that we forget to make time for our own mom. Our kids, spouse, work, and home cry out for our attention at every moment of the day. My kids literally demand all of me. Whether it's help on the potty, a sippy-cup refill, or a story to read together, it's never ending. Likewise, the laundry piles are toppling over and the dishes are all but jumping out of the sink themselves.
So, when my mom comes for a visit, it's easy to put her on the back-burner. She doesn't mind because she sees that everything is crazy and responds by helping me out while she's here. I love when Mom comes because my stove always gets cleaned and she teaches my middle daughter how to fold laundry.
I've been blessed to have Mom living only two hours away from me, but even with that fairly close distance, we only get to visit a limited number of times per year. Recently, I decided it was time for a special weekend to honor my mother.
My twin sister and I arranged a celebration weekend with our mom and a close friend. After an enjoyable and relaxing lunch at a favorite Italian restaurant, we headed to a tranquil winery, where we conversed and sampled flavorful wines. The night ended with a sleep-over at my sister's house where we watched movies until one or two in the morning. We had so much fun basking in the quiet moments and soaking up the lazy schedule.
Similarly, during a recent visit with Mom at my house, I decided that I wanted to set aside more time just for her. I limited my tasks in order to make her a priority. Even though the kids and chores begged for me to attend to them instead, I was able to steal a few quality moments with Mom. We enjoyed a flavorful glass of Merlot together at the end of the day. Likewise, I took advantage of more opportunities to sit and chat on the sofa and savored our quiet morning hours together before the chaos began.
Before Mom arrived, I called her and asked her to bring one of her favorite coffee mugs so that we could trade them as reminders of one another. She loaned me her "I love Mom" mug and I gave her my "Dianne" mug. It's remarkable how much this trade has meant to both of us even after a few short days.
We spoke yesterday and she told me "I'm using your mug today." I reiterated to her how much I've enjoyed using hers as well. Since we both love coffee, it's especially sweet to think of one another in this context. I know we're both drinking a fresh cup of strong brew in the morning and it makes me feel like we're closer.
Maybe you could trade something special with your mom as well. It could be a mug or a wine glass. Or you could exchange a place-mat, a juice pitcher, or a vase. As long as it is valuable to both of you and it makes you think of one another, then it's a worthwhile swap.
Since life is so short and our moms are so important to us, we need to make quality time for them. Life will always demand too much of us. Things will never really slow down. So, we just have to pull over to the side of the road and put on the brakes. This means that some things won't get done. But, the special memories with Mom will be etched in your heart forever. Some day when she's passed on, you'll be glad you wasted some time catching up with her.
So, when my mom comes for a visit, it's easy to put her on the back-burner. She doesn't mind because she sees that everything is crazy and responds by helping me out while she's here. I love when Mom comes because my stove always gets cleaned and she teaches my middle daughter how to fold laundry.
I've been blessed to have Mom living only two hours away from me, but even with that fairly close distance, we only get to visit a limited number of times per year. Recently, I decided it was time for a special weekend to honor my mother.
My twin sister and I arranged a celebration weekend with our mom and a close friend. After an enjoyable and relaxing lunch at a favorite Italian restaurant, we headed to a tranquil winery, where we conversed and sampled flavorful wines. The night ended with a sleep-over at my sister's house where we watched movies until one or two in the morning. We had so much fun basking in the quiet moments and soaking up the lazy schedule.
Similarly, during a recent visit with Mom at my house, I decided that I wanted to set aside more time just for her. I limited my tasks in order to make her a priority. Even though the kids and chores begged for me to attend to them instead, I was able to steal a few quality moments with Mom. We enjoyed a flavorful glass of Merlot together at the end of the day. Likewise, I took advantage of more opportunities to sit and chat on the sofa and savored our quiet morning hours together before the chaos began.
Before Mom arrived, I called her and asked her to bring one of her favorite coffee mugs so that we could trade them as reminders of one another. She loaned me her "I love Mom" mug and I gave her my "Dianne" mug. It's remarkable how much this trade has meant to both of us even after a few short days.
We spoke yesterday and she told me "I'm using your mug today." I reiterated to her how much I've enjoyed using hers as well. Since we both love coffee, it's especially sweet to think of one another in this context. I know we're both drinking a fresh cup of strong brew in the morning and it makes me feel like we're closer.
Maybe you could trade something special with your mom as well. It could be a mug or a wine glass. Or you could exchange a place-mat, a juice pitcher, or a vase. As long as it is valuable to both of you and it makes you think of one another, then it's a worthwhile swap.
Since life is so short and our moms are so important to us, we need to make quality time for them. Life will always demand too much of us. Things will never really slow down. So, we just have to pull over to the side of the road and put on the brakes. This means that some things won't get done. But, the special memories with Mom will be etched in your heart forever. Some day when she's passed on, you'll be glad you wasted some time catching up with her.
Labels: grandmas, moms, remembering
Monday, June 01, 2009
Mugs
Each eclectic mug we sip our coffee or tea from has a story to tell. If mugs could talk, we would hear such amazing tales of old. Some mugs reflect such poignant memories from the past. Do you remember the time I sat with Billy over that cup of English tea? It was a beautiful ceramic one decorated with pansies, chrysanthemums, and light pink ivy geraniums. Oh, what a conversation that was, and the tea was delightful with just the right amount of honey in it. I didn’t really know much about the War until I sat next to her on that rainy afternoon.
It was quite amazing really. Her husband flew a mail carrier over the Himalayas and his plane engine went out during one of his flights. The plane soared down for thousands of feet, like a great eagle with its wings clipped. And all of a sudden, as if an angel from heaven intervened, the plane’s engine kicked in, and her husband, Cub, was alright. It makes no sense, why that memory means so much to me, given that I wasn't even born yet when that event took place. Somehow when she told that story, I felt like I was there, a part of that audacious dive into death's cold grip. What a comeback to spring into life once again, to have a second chance. Would you like a refill on your coffee? Sorry Mom, it's still brewing, it'll be just a few more minutes.
That reminds me of my red and pink poinsettia mug. Do you know which one I’m talking about Mother, the faded one with the permanent coffee stain around the top? Do you remember the time you brought me some fresh squeezed orange juice in that mug because we were all out of glasses in the cupboard? Well, it was reasonable given that my third had just been born. Oh, she was so tiny and it was such a special time for you to be there helping out. That orange juice really hit the spot.
My body and spirit were so tired, even too tired to sleep; my mind was stirring with a whirlwind of thoughts and my body ached throughout. You helped me so much during that visit. I’ll never forget the laundry you folded; oh, weren’t their little socks so tiny? The home-cooked meals were scrumptious and you even got outside and picked some fresh apricots off of our tree. I’ll never forget how you read to our other two kids and how you made them feel so valued during the transition of yet another little one in the house. You gave your time and your physical energy, but you also just listened to my joys and concerns. I’ll never forget that wonderful glass of hand-squeezed orange juice, in my faded floral mug of all places. I never would have thought of adding a squeeze of lime to it. It was delicious.
Oh and then, there’s my chipped and faded Santa mug, the one with the big fluffy beard and the jovial smile. Remember our first childhood Christmas away from home, how we flew up to Washington to visit Grandma and Grandpa for the holidays? It was so cold compared to sunny San Diego; the crisp air filled my lungs with alertness and vivacity. After Sissy and I got unpacked, we decided to go outside exploring. It was frightfully chilly, but with so much adventure on the horizon, the cold had to be momentarily dismissed.
After seeing several deer and some beautiful blue jays, we decided to head back to Grandma's humble home. Crackling was heard from the antique fireplace while their cat Fluffy was asleep on the arm of the blue corduroy sofa. Grandma saw us coming and before we could sit down, she put a cup of warm hot cocoa into each of our hands. She even included those miniature marshmallows, the multicolored ones that I still love. I’ll always cherish this Santa mug from Grandma. I really miss her Mom.
Wow, that smell is wonderful. It sounds like the coffee is done brewing, so I’m going to go and get myself a fresh cup. Would you like a refill in yours? Is this mug new? I’ve never seen one quite like this. This one belonged to Great Grandma Grace? It sounds like she was a pretty incredible lady. I’m not sure if I could have raised eight kids on my own, let alone in the Midwest before there was electricity and running water. Oh, tell me some more about her adventures when she was overseas with the Red Cross. I really like that one about how she met Great Grandpa Arnold. It’s so humorous, it doesn’t seem quite possible. Are you sure you’re not adding in a few creative details to make it sound more entertaining? Wait, don’t start until I’m back with the cream and sugar, I want to hear every word.
It was quite amazing really. Her husband flew a mail carrier over the Himalayas and his plane engine went out during one of his flights. The plane soared down for thousands of feet, like a great eagle with its wings clipped. And all of a sudden, as if an angel from heaven intervened, the plane’s engine kicked in, and her husband, Cub, was alright. It makes no sense, why that memory means so much to me, given that I wasn't even born yet when that event took place. Somehow when she told that story, I felt like I was there, a part of that audacious dive into death's cold grip. What a comeback to spring into life once again, to have a second chance. Would you like a refill on your coffee? Sorry Mom, it's still brewing, it'll be just a few more minutes.
That reminds me of my red and pink poinsettia mug. Do you know which one I’m talking about Mother, the faded one with the permanent coffee stain around the top? Do you remember the time you brought me some fresh squeezed orange juice in that mug because we were all out of glasses in the cupboard? Well, it was reasonable given that my third had just been born. Oh, she was so tiny and it was such a special time for you to be there helping out. That orange juice really hit the spot.
My body and spirit were so tired, even too tired to sleep; my mind was stirring with a whirlwind of thoughts and my body ached throughout. You helped me so much during that visit. I’ll never forget the laundry you folded; oh, weren’t their little socks so tiny? The home-cooked meals were scrumptious and you even got outside and picked some fresh apricots off of our tree. I’ll never forget how you read to our other two kids and how you made them feel so valued during the transition of yet another little one in the house. You gave your time and your physical energy, but you also just listened to my joys and concerns. I’ll never forget that wonderful glass of hand-squeezed orange juice, in my faded floral mug of all places. I never would have thought of adding a squeeze of lime to it. It was delicious.
Oh and then, there’s my chipped and faded Santa mug, the one with the big fluffy beard and the jovial smile. Remember our first childhood Christmas away from home, how we flew up to Washington to visit Grandma and Grandpa for the holidays? It was so cold compared to sunny San Diego; the crisp air filled my lungs with alertness and vivacity. After Sissy and I got unpacked, we decided to go outside exploring. It was frightfully chilly, but with so much adventure on the horizon, the cold had to be momentarily dismissed.
After seeing several deer and some beautiful blue jays, we decided to head back to Grandma's humble home. Crackling was heard from the antique fireplace while their cat Fluffy was asleep on the arm of the blue corduroy sofa. Grandma saw us coming and before we could sit down, she put a cup of warm hot cocoa into each of our hands. She even included those miniature marshmallows, the multicolored ones that I still love. I’ll always cherish this Santa mug from Grandma. I really miss her Mom.
Wow, that smell is wonderful. It sounds like the coffee is done brewing, so I’m going to go and get myself a fresh cup. Would you like a refill in yours? Is this mug new? I’ve never seen one quite like this. This one belonged to Great Grandma Grace? It sounds like she was a pretty incredible lady. I’m not sure if I could have raised eight kids on my own, let alone in the Midwest before there was electricity and running water. Oh, tell me some more about her adventures when she was overseas with the Red Cross. I really like that one about how she met Great Grandpa Arnold. It’s so humorous, it doesn’t seem quite possible. Are you sure you’re not adding in a few creative details to make it sound more entertaining? Wait, don’t start until I’m back with the cream and sugar, I want to hear every word.
