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Mother's Day Memories

Last year was the fifth Mother's Day without mom. It was a sad day and I wrote a blog about how much she meant to me. This year, I awoke and started to chuckle. I thought about the silliness of this one day we deem Mother's Day. It's a day that was brought about by a woman who wanted a day to observe and respect mother's everywhere. The woman who pushed this to become a yearly occurrence, passed by Woodrow Wilson, actually fought to have it repealed due to the fact that she was upset with how it had become commercialized. I find it funny at what it has become and what people do, year in and year out, despite knowing it's silliness.

I started thinking about past years and the funny gifts, cards and things that happened. I used to always make a present for my mother when I was younger. Usually because it was a school project, but later I'd make cards or other presents. I have never had any artistic ability, but I remember once we had to make something with clay and were going to glaze it and put it in a kiln. I made my mother a necklace. It was pretty plain compared to what my classmates made, but I liked it and gave it to her as a Mother's Day present. She of course oohed and aahed and said she loved it, like all mother's do, no matter how atrocious their little tike's gifts are. What I'll never forget is months later, she was going out to a dinner party and she was all dressed to the nines and she was wearing the necklace. I remember feeling so proud. The next morning she told me that women were wearing pearls and diamonds, but nobody ever asked them where they got them. Everyone asked her where she got the beautiful necklace. She said her wonderful son made it for her. I don't know if I ever made anything else after that, but I'll never forget that day.

When I was about twenty, my father was out of town on business and was to come home that night. I woke up my ten-year-old brother and we set out to buy stuff to make her a special breakfast. We hadn't driven more than a block when a car that was speeding down the road slammed into the driver's side door. My brother, who was in the passenger seat and not wearing his seat belt hit his head against the window. As I was checking him, the guy was screaming at me. Luckily for him, the police got there before I got to him. All I cared about was my brother. I gave the police the information and the policeman bent down to speak to my brother. He said "hey buddy, I have a question for you and tell me the truth. Were you wearing your seat belt?" My brother nodded. He said "you wouldn't lie to a police officer, would you?" My brother said "Nope, I was wearing it." That night, my mother taped a plastic bag to the window and picked my father up at the airport. When my father saw the car, he was shocked and asked what happened. Somehow the story of little Owen lying to the policeman became a bigger topic than the huge dent in the side. I've been in a few more accidents since that day and my brother is now a policeman.

My mother was a wonderful cook and on many occasions she did the cooking on Mother's Day. One year, my father said he wanted to take her out. Knowing how crazy restaurants are this day, we made an early reservation at a place on City Island. We all dressed nicely and got there a little early. We waited to be seated and watched in amazement as people pulled up in limousines, then got out wearing basketball jerseys and shorts. Nearly everyone in he restaurant was wearing a baseball cap. We had a horrible meal and just sat in astonishment at the way people conducted themselves in public. I remember my mother thanked us for a lovely dinner and we all looked at her and she said, "OK it sucked. Let's go home and have dessert."

So today, I'm counting the money I'm saving on a card, candy and a gift. I'm thinking of all the funny and crazy things that have taken place on this silly day. I'm sitting alone, thinking about the person I loved more than anyone else in this world. Not a day goes by that I don't think of her. Not a day goes by I don't miss her. Not a day goes by I don't need to ask her advice. Today is May 9th, 2010 a day like any other day. Now that she's gone, every day is Mother's Day.

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