HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!

Happy Mother’s Day! Though I did get a “Happy Birthing Person’s Day” coffee cup dirt cheap…

The most important day of the year – if you want to enjoy the rest of the year.

As you may recall, My Captor recently hosted a ‘daughters weekend’, which had dual benefits: The female folk had a hell of a time, and the family men reminded Mothers are the least appreciated, most missed – and valuable – family member.

But not unlike using the ‘correct’ garbage service in the Bronx, Mother’s Day has a tinge of appeasement – “Good old Mom seems to do a lot around here, let’s give her a day!” – and of course, celebration, “Another mimosa dear, after you change little Elbert’s diaper?” – – but it should be a contemplation of parenting, and love.

And an extra mimosa helps with slack jawed contemplation. Try them with Prosecco, Fresca and a splash of Aberol – my Grandfather Adam’s recipe, the only thing he was able to bring with him when he left Lithuania.

Parenting is a complicated job. I studied accounting, and even I get that.

So complicated, it’s as if the parental unit was split in half, and when combined, mothers and fathers  make one truly effective parent.

Each half bringing different strengths: Mothers – love/support/encouragement, Fathers – cluelessness/motor skills/watching televised sports.

Or is it deceptively simple?

The basics of parenting remain constant: Forgive their mistakes, teach them to do better and be good citizens, to be nice to others – and themselves, and love them unconditionally.

But any contemplation of unconditional love begins with Mothers.

And if I’m being honest, I’m admitting my Mother was a much better Mom than I was a son:

My plusses: the good stuff that made her proud and made unconditional love unconditionally easy. I began with an advantage, being named for her beloved, deceased brother and father. Importantly, I was never indicted for any major financial crimes, rooted for Notre Dame, and raved about her cooking (though I only ate gluten-free Spaghetti O’s).    

The minuses: All the times I disappointed her, and maybe even broke her heart a little.

All those young man’s self-centered thoughtlessness moments: The time I missed a corned beef dinner she’d made – at my request; Or in college when I forgot her birthday – tough to find a pay phone back then; Or the time I spent the last day of Christmas break with my friends watching football – but it was the Astro-Bluebonnet Bowl!

Or the time, or the time, or the time…  

But my Mom forgave and forgot. Repeatedly. And I’m guessing, so did your Mom, and all Moms…

That’s unconditional love. That’s Mom.

And if we’d listened harder to ‘Mom’s wisdom’ – her blue check would have been free – today’s misinformation problems would be solved – and our outlooks improved:

“Do you know how lucky you are?”

“With gratitude, optimism is sustainable” (a Michael J. Fox line I’m sure he heard from his Mother).

“Treat others the way you want to be treated”  

“Put your damn phone down”

“To have a friend, be a friend”

“Never invest in crypto”

“Everything in moderation”

“Keep a blanket and snack in the car – there won’t be enough charging stations!”

But there was definitely Mom ‘advice’ to be ignored: “I don’t really need any gifts. Maybe just a card.”

So today, those of us who have or had a Mother, offer our annual expression of Mom’s amazingness -the glue that cements civilization across generations.

Doing God’s work!

But Moms are definitely wise enough to know today is a feeble – yet genuine  – effort to give them proper thanks for all they do.

And love us for it anyway…

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TO ENHANCE YOUR ENJOYMENTOF THIS POST, PAIR IT WITH THE FOLLOWING:

If you’re in the mood for music, maybe some B.B. King. Check out “nobody loves me like my Mother”, and “she might be jivin’ too”.

But today’s pairing is a poem cited in The Rent Collector by Camron Wright, a fabulous read. What better tribute to Mom’s love?

Love Forever  Joni Buehner

If I were the trees…
I would turn my leaves to gold and scatter them toward the sky so they would circle about your head and fall in piles at your feet, so you might wonder.

If I were the mountains…
I would crumble down and lift you up so you could see all of my secret places, where the rivers flow and the animals run wild, so you might know freedom.

If I were the ocean…
I would raise you onto my gentle waves and carry you across the seas to swim with the whales and the dolphins in the moonlit waters, so you might know peace.

If I were the stars…
I would sparkle like never before and fall from the sky as gentle rain, so that you would always look towards heaven and know that you can reach the stars.

If I were the moon…
I would scoop you up and sail you through the sky and show you the Earth below in all its wonder and beauty, so you might know that all the Earth is at your command.

If I were the sun…
I would warm and glow like never before and light the sky with orange and pink, so you would gaze upward and always know the glory of heaven.

But I am me…
And since I am the one who loves you, I will wrap you in my arms and kiss you and love you with all of my heart.

And this I will do until…
The mountains crumble down, and the oceans dry up, and the stars fall from the sky, and the sun and the moon burn out.

And that is forever love.