Filed under: Memory, Movie, True Story, reminence | Tags: birthday party, family, happiness, Momma, Rememberance
It is Momma’s birthday, April 22 and even though she may not be physically here, Momma is with me today to celebrate her life and remember how much she enjoyed the many parties I gave her on her birthday. Even when I was young, Momma loved her day, especially if my sister and I planned something. As a very young boy I used to think for weeks to determine what my Sister and I could do to make the day special for her and then we spent an equal time trying to decide what was a perfect gift, a gift just for our Momma.
There was more than one time our funds were not as abundant as I thought they should be. Momma was always willing to give me a little money. I used to think I was pulling a fast one on her, but as I grew up I realized Momma always knew what I was after.
After Momma and I moved to Arizona, following my father’s death, the real parties began for her. The first big splash was for her seventy-fifth birthday, a day Momma was very nervous about having it arrive. It was the only time Momma didn’t yearn for tomorrow. Earlier in the year all three of her sisters felt she would never make to seventy-five. There Mother died when she was seventy-four and for some ridiculous reason they felt Momma would leave first and follow in her Mother’s footsteps. Sadly, Momma did leave before they did, but they had to wait an additional dozen years for it to happen. I often wondered if they knew how mean they were when they suggested that to her.
In the years following Momma had many wonderful parties and she never was hesitant to have another birthday. Her birthdays were like her tomorrows. They were something that she needed to keep looking forward to rather than dwelling on the past. Even last year, her last birthday with me, was joyfully embraced by her. Momma always adapted and that day her strength was paramount. She had just been in the hospital, very frail and barely could speak loudly, yet she was ready to get dressed, sit on the sofa, rather than stay in bed. It was Momma’s day and the hair, makeup and dress had to be perfect for her. When we sang Happy Birthday I lit candles on a plate of pastel White Chocolate Nips as Momma’s cake. Her swallowing had become very weak and she was not able to eat, yet even those little nips with candles were very special to her.
Momma was and is a very special person. I shall never be able to equal her in humor, wisdom or compassion. She has always been my guiding light and continues to be. Many days I know my Mother’s hand help direct me through what I am doing. I know Momma is here with me now as I write and as I prepared the movie that will help share our special feelings during her memorable birthdays over the last decade.
Please join me in sharing my memories–
Filed under: Pets, True Story, reminence | Tags: Cat, freedom, happiness, home, security
Yesterday late in the day, we arrived in the car and momentarily waited on the driveway for the garage door to open, then after driving the car into the garage, I opened the door to alight and get Sousé out of the back seat. Quickly, we made it up the ramp to the laundry room door, the door I looked forward to seeing for the past weeks and smiled because Sousé wiggled anxiously and gave me his gruntled meow to let me know of his impatience. Stepping into the laundry room we both exhaled a giant sigh–we were home!! As we moved into the family room, Sousé meowed, “Migraults!” Knowing better not to tarry, I quickly set him down. He raced at full seal point speed to cross the family room and reach the kitchen, recognizing the track changed from carpeting to slick tile and he knew he was in the last stretch. As Sousé entered the kitchen I paused to make a clumsy, pirouette and before me the wall of glass continued to fuel my serenity through the windows prisms highlighting the primary colored pillows in the room, the colors that my Mother chose to use to make the room as bright and cheerful as possible following her stroke.
Sousé beat me to the far side of the kitchen and sought to find his feeding and water station. Immediately, a loud call from the master sounded……..this time a demanding meowed, “MiNukNot”, which means for me to get down to business. I quickly get him water, not in his water bowl, but another and ask that he be patient because the cat food is in the car. “MarRook,” he answers and I know he has given me limited time to provide him with dinner. If I am not back before his time clock strikes, I know he will tell me he has been waiting long enough for dinner!!
Yes, the little demon was so good in the car (well as good as good can be after he let a little warm drizzle flow while sitting on M’s lap) and waited the last hour without food when I told him he would eat at home and not in the car. As I set the food on the floor, he pushed my hand away and gives me a quick “Guark”, the meow which tells me thank-you. His simple response makes me realize our little cat is as happy as I am to be back in our home, his house, my house,!!
Darkness arrives soon after and reminds me how tired I am. One stair at a time will bring me to the second floor and as I climb the stairs I peer down to look where my Mother should have been. Instead, I see Sousé curled up, with nose under paw, on his love seat sleeping. I bid Momma Good Night and touch my lips to throw a kiss and then continue on to bed. Hastily, I ready the bed and myself to jump in side. As I fall asleep, burrowed deeply under the covers, I think about “Home” and its relationship to humans and pets.
Home is where I belong, where Sousé belongs. It gives me my identity, a locus of security and a point of centering in our world. Home is where I can kick off my shoes, fall on one of the sofas to rest and ignore the doorbell if I wish. This place of “home” surrounds me with memories, freedom, levels of thought and an environment of safety. It is the place that is born of family traditions, of gaiety and sadness, of humor and bittersweet moments.
When I think of it those elements are much the same for Sousé. It is the place he feels the most secure, has his secret hiding places in all the rooms and a stairwell to race up and then down or sit on the balcony and call till I look at him!
Home brings our special likes to mind and often makes us want them again. Home is my Mother’s ravioli, gnocchi and sauce. It is her smile and outstretched arms. It is my understanding of my Mother’s faith in her God and acceptance and curiousity in M’s Jewishness. It is my creativity in unique entertaining that one day you may enjoy and it is my thoughts that you feel when you look at the art on the walls.
Home is the essence of Spring and Summer as you walk through my roses, bend to take a whiff and have a thorn catch you by surprise and so you continue on to an array of wild lilies, miniature apple trees, fresh strawberries, a peach tree and a changing carpet of colors from all the rest of the flowers. It is also to walk the weaving fence of willow and feel their wispy branches move in the breeze and understand the sound you hear is their spirit speaking to you.
Home is everything I want and provides everything Sousé needs!
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