Sunday, May 14, 2006

Mother's Day & Prized Possessions


I know it's sappy, but hey, I started this entry months ago, actually during Hurricane Katrina, and I tucked it away for Mother's Day. If I don't post it now, I'll have to wait another year.

Have you ever imagined, which material items you'd most want to rescue from your house, in case of total destruction? I grew up and currently live in the midwest. What could take my home? A tornado. Fire. What would I want to rush back in for, given, of course, that we are all safe? I wonder every time I see or hear a story of people's loss on television. My answer, to myself, is always unwaivering and immediate: The Coin Purse.

My son found that coin purse in a parking lot when he was 5 years old. No I.D., no cash, just a wet little coin purse in the middle of the Osco parking lot. What a cute little weathered thing it was; "Can I have it?" I asked him.

No. He liked it, he found it, it was his. He found a place for it in his bedroom, and there it stayed, for months.

Mother's Day rolled around, our first "alone" after his father and I split. We did the usual Mother's Day things, took flowers to Grandma, and had lunch with her and Grandpa, then came home and made cookies, a nice little day together. Dinner, and bath and bedtime, and Brian came padding out in his little pajamas. His dad was out of town, he said, and could not take him shopping for a gift for me (it was true). Since he had nothing to give, he wanted me to have the coin purse, because he remembered I like it.

For all of my footstomping and declarations that I hate "sap," the coin purse crumbled me then, and still does. It sits now in my curio cabinet, and still represents to me everything I ever tried to instill in my child—love, friendship, laughter, thoughtfulness, the golden rule, heart, independence, strength, dignity, honesty...to name but a few.

This year, I'm celebrating with a goofy sketch of a vase of flowers, and a note to tell Grandma Happy Mother's Day too, both stuck to the frig with magnets.

Just as good.

8 comments:

  1. What? I get the first comment on one of your postings? I'm...honored.

    That was a very sweet story. It makes me sad that my mom probably doesn't have any stories like that about me. She did once accuse me of "ruining Christmas," after all.

    Enjoy your dinner!

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  2. That's beautiful. You raised a good boy who is becoming a good man. Be proud of him ~ and of you.

    As for me ~ my Bear, my pictures of me and my dad, and my picture of my grandfather. It's a simple as the coin purse.

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  3. That's so sweet. Happy Mothers Day. I'm sure Brian is thinking about you today!

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  4. Have a lovely day...and cheers to you for having such a caring son.

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  5. I hope the mfing Army let the boys call their moms today. Geesh.

    Brian has always been a tenderheart. You told me he can't watch Sling Blade because he can't stand that Doyle treating the boy so bad. That's stuck with me all these years. And when I came to visit a few years ago, Brian and his friends went out to dinner with us because he knew it was important to you (come ON, 18 year old boys have better things to do than hang out with Mom and her fogey old friends!). He's a great kid, becoming a great man. I'm lucky to have you and your parentage as a role model.

    Happy Mother's Day, Sweetie. I love you!

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  6. Anonymous10:30 PM

    Happy Mothers day.It sounds like you have a great son.

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  7. What a wonderful, selfless thing for him to do!

    He is such a thoughtful person.

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  8. Happy belated mother's day. You are right - he showed caring, love, independence, thoughtfulness, all in that one gesture. Sounds like you did a pretty bang up job.

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