Mother's Day was always a special day in my house when I was growing up! I couldn't wait to do something nice or make something special for my mom. Whatever I managed to create in the way of a self made greeting card, never seemed to be enough. From those younger years I couldn't wait to be bigger so that I could buy a card from the store and give it to her. I wanted to see the smile in her eyes as she opened the card and carefully took it out of the envelope. I knew that no matter what the card looked like she would love it but just knowing that I made her day a special day was what counted.
I remember one Mother's Day in particular....I had gone to the store with my brother Mick and picked out a card that was absolutely beautiful! It had flowers and glitter on the front of it and that was all I needed to see! I knew that this was the card that she would cherish forever! The day came and it was time to give mom her card. I handed her the card and she had that twinkle in her eyes as she began to slowly open the seal (of course I had licked it to seal it shut, making it more dramatic in my eyes as she opened it). She took the card out of the envelope and said............."OH how pretty!!!" (That was enough for me to hear to make my day!) Then she opened it up and started to laugh. Laugh? What was so funny about my card? I guess I hadn't really read the verse as I scanned the cards for that perfect flower, glitter, etc. If I had, I would have known that this card was a sympathy card...NOT a Mother's Day card! DOH!
Well....she had a good laugh as she pulled me close and gave me a HUGE hug and a kiss to the forehead and then said...."This was a very pretty card!" I don't remember much more than that. I do know that I read cards now very carefully before sending them.
I miss my kids on all days but especially on a day that's made just for mothers. Usually the Saturday before Mother's day, all moms stay close to their front door in hopes of being home for the floral delivery guy...or better, a surprise from one of the kids that they are home for a visit! Saturday came and went for me......and although the florist trucks were busy at the houses to my right and to my left and directly across the street, they never stopped for me.
But all was not lost when Emily phoned this morning to wish me a happy day, we talked for a little bit and exchanged a few pleasantries and then something interrupted her on her end and she had to go. I was wondering if "the boys" in my daughters lives would get on the phone and wish me a Happy Mother's day too as my brother in laws used to do with my mom. But it's a different world today then the one that I grew up in so many long years ago. Emily said that she would call me back but the phone never rang again.
I suppose that Mandy is busy with Alex and Davey or at work waiting on all the other mothers that have been taken out for a nice dinner by their kids. And Tommy....He's probably asleep or out at the bar with his friends, not realizing that this really is a special day that mothers wait for every year. Just like fathers wait to be shown a little extra affection, a little pampering from their children.
Well I hope that wherever they are and whatever they are doing today that they at least had a little memory of me as they were growing up..........and could share that with someone.
I guess it's time that I forget about Mother's Day 2009 and focus on something else. I do know one thing....it's darn lonely when your kids are spread out across the country and the only thing that you have to hope for is an email card, a cellphone call, or even a snail mail card instead of a hug and a day spent together, and nothing shows up for you.
Oh well........to the other Mother's of the world: Happy Mother's Day!
