Flowers for all of our Mother's
♥Patricia♥by Joey
Happy Mother's Day to everyone! I'd like to start off by saying that I hope everyone shows their Mother some love today and every day because they are a precious gift. Let me tell you about my Mother.
My Mom, Patricia, who we called "Mama" growing up, was born in 1950 in North Carolina. She had one sister and one brother. Her parents, my Meemaw and Papa, ran the local A & P grocery store.
My mom grew up and always worked hard. As a teenager she worked in the tobacco fields in the hot, humid air of North Carolina. She also worked at the local movie theatre where she got to enjoy that weeks' feature before the public had the chance to see it. Of course she worked at the grocery store my grandparents ran also.
She grew up and met my father, Harold. They began dating and got married, and soon thereafter, I was born. I was the first child and am the oldest of four boys. I was spoiled by my parents and grandparents, because I was the first grandchild on both sides of my family. My Dad was a mechanic. They divorced when I was ten and I always helped my Mom out with my brothers.
My Mama always worked hard and took care of my brothers and I. She was a very funny person and full of life. She always knew how to make you smile. She also played piano by ear, a gift that my little brother also inherited. She also loved to cook. Mama could whip up some of the best meals you ever put in your mouth. Maybe that's where the saying "It's so good, it'll make you slap your mama!" came from. lol
Mama loved to sing also. She sang in the church choir and eventually got me involved. Poetry was also a huge part of her life. I wished I was able to quickly get my hands on some poetry she wrote because I'd share it with you all. Maybe I'll do that for another day. She had an extraordinary gift.
I'll tell you a funny story. When my brothers and I were younger, we had a tape recorder(Yes, I dated myself, but I'm sure you all had one) or cassette recorder, whatever you'd like to call it. Well, we used to go around recording random stuff, joking, and just having fun with it. We would always try to 'sneak' and record her doing or saying something funny, but she wouldn't fall for it. She always knew we secretly had the recorder near her. She'd keep saying in a stern voice, "stop recording me!" lol
I had some of these recordings for years, even as an adult, and I ended up losing them. I'd give anything to have those back now. My Mama was a very strong person. She lived with leukemia for nine long years when the doctor only told her she would live two. She was a fighter and I grew strength in that as I got older.
As she got older, and got remarried, she was a stay at home mom. She cooked, cleaned and worked really hard to keep us four boys from destroying our home. lol
She made us do chores and do our part, and at the time, I'd say to her when she'd demand the dishes be washed, "Not now Mama". I only realized as I got older and raised my brothers why she meant she wanted them done RIGHT then and THERE. I am a lot like her today. lol
I learned many things from Mama. One was how to make gravy and cook in general. As a child, I wanted this play "cooking set" out of the S& H Greenbax catalog(remember those?), and she got it for me! I was so thrilled to get it. She started teaching me how to cook when I was nine years old. Another thing she taught me was how to shop and be frugal which I still put into practice to this day.
Using coupons was never an issue for her. She loved using them and saving money. She could sniff out a bargain like Toucan Sam could froot loops. lol
I rarely saw my Mama angry. She had to deal with unpleasant situations just as any Mother would, but she always handled them with grace and dignity.
My Mama never judged me. She tried to get me to come "out" to her in so many words, but I never had the courage. It's true for the most part that Mother's always "know". Not being my true self to her is something I regret to this day, but I know she's looking down and is proud of what her four boys have become now as men.
Remember, love and cherish your mom while you have her. Make every moment count, as you never know when God may call her home........
♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥
