My mother’s name literally means “warrior”. She can’t help but sneeze at the top of her lungs. She opens her crackly peppermints during the most reflective time in the church service. Her audible gasp of horror is predictable any time a glass of water spills. Though I barely find myself walking or looking the other direction now when she does something embarrassing because I admire it. I admire the fact that she can eat a hardboiled egg from home on the airplane and has no concept that its aroma isn’t PC.
Trust me, you know when my mother arrives- because she is probably driving a vintage car from my late father’s collection…and it is bright and loud…and she will park right in front because it’s the best spot. And if it doesn’t start right up, she will know exactly what to do to get it going again. That’s my mom.
I love this about her but it also explains a lot about who I am and how I now play the straight man in our Thelma & Louise adventures. I am just along for the ride…
My mother is about bright colors and patterns. And everything matches (that part I get). She is perfectly put together even when she goes to the mailbox or to run a quick errand in town. She broke her wrist and her ankle falling on ice over Christmas this year. Determined to still make it to Arizona for the winter, she packed up her walker, splint and color coordinated swimsuits and cover ups & flew to Arizona. When I visited her a few weeks after her arrival out west she was driving me around on the golf cart to run to Trader Joe’s for wine and to pick up our take out order. That’s my mom.
Everyone knows her and she knows everyone which is why we nicknamed her “The Mayor” a few years ago. She is a dynamic, social creature- always finding ways to do special things with friends- whether volunteering, decorating the club, hosting a lunch meeting, or just meeting a group out for dinner many nights a week. In fact, at this moment she is still in Europe, finishing up a cruise with friends and visiting others in Sweden.
How does she do this?
Simply put, because she can. My mother has earned it. She has her stripes. She’s paid her dues in spades. My mother is living her life.
The greatest lessons she has taught us have been through demonstration.
Be a devoted partner
Be there for your kids
Be a friend to your parents
Live your life
My mother was born while my grandfather was serving in World War II. Her bond with him was one that persevered through the adversity of caring for my grandmother while mom was a young girl. My grandfather learned quickly how to get my mom into fancy dresses and spit curls for church, while my grandmother recovered from numerous surgeries. She learned at a young age her very best gift. The gift of caregiving.