I just realized a little something my mom and I have in common. I like to be entertained. However, it’s not exactly a common trait, more of a common interest. My mom likes to entertain. It’s almost October. Pumpkins are already in stores, ready to make their debuts as everything from amateur Jack-o-lanterns to elaborate […]
My mother probably doesn’t remember this. At the young age of eleven, I knew it was selfish and silly. But I did it anyway. It was close to Christmas, and we’d been learning in school about different traditions around the world. I think it was Holland where children would leave their wooden shoes by the […]
I didn’t know until recently just how frugal my grandfather was. I never felt or noticed he was that way. But when I was born, he was married to a woman I regarded as my grandmother. She took good care of us and bought us nice things when we visited. In my grandfather’s defense, he […]
The younger you are, the slower time passes. Then, when you’re my age, the days fly by like the rapid release of calendar pages in old movies. I only remember one Christmas from before the age of five. But it starts with an earlier memory. Was it a month before? Two, three months? At that […]
One of my mother’s “hate to miss” shows is The Antiques Road Show. My mother has been interested in antiques for as long as I can remember. I’ve been to innumerable antique stores, estate or garage sales, flea markets and thrift stores with her over the years. I inherited the gene. I find meandering through […]
I wonder if trees ever want to run. Are they discontent with staying put? A nice gentle breeze that rustles through their leaves feels good. But does it bother them when fierce winds buffet and they can’t duck? A gentle rain is refreshing but are they frightened for life and limb during perilous lightning striking […]
My mother and sister paid for a cruise to Hawaii. The two of them, me, and my niece. We thoroughly enjoyed one another’s company. But the cruise? I felt like I was trapped in a hotel/mall. There was a lot of water, a ton of mediocre food, and plenty of schnorrers. At our first island […]
Watching a rerun of Monk. It’s August so naturally, a Christmas episode is on. It starts out with an office party at the precinct. I’ve been to a few office parties. They weren’t as good as the ones on tv. They were mostly boring. Not much fun and no murders. But then I thought of my mom […]
My mother has a knack for whipping up a bit of magic now and then. Or is it a bit of whimsy? When I was young, most people in our town were doing well financially and many had pets – pedigree pets. We and some others had mutts and whatever the equivalent of that is […]
My grandmother died when my mother was very young. I’m not sure what her diet was like when her mother was alive, but it took a varied, erratic, turn afterward as her father took over. Sometimes my mother would be in charge of breakfast for herself and younger brother. One favorite creation de jour was […]