Sunday, May 11, 2008

Look, Ma, Both Hands!

My mom is a funny creature.

There are times I would catch her humming the Cranberries song Zombie while she's watering her plants. She loves her residential flora, almost as much as she loves her kids and grandkids. I know that it isn't unusual for plant-lovers to talk to their plants, but is lovingly humming songs like Zombie to them normal?

When I screw up, she has this way of talking to me that makes me shrink; it's like I'm a wayward kid all over again. She hardly ever yells, but the tone she uses, soft as it is, is no less stentorian. In those moments she makes me cringe with anger and shame.

But there are other things I remember.

Like how comforting her hand felt smoothing my hair away from my sweaty brow as I, writhing and moaning in pain from gallstones, was being driven to the hospital. How calming and reassuring her whispers were. Better than Lamaze.

Like how she would spend hours with each newborn child just so that I could catch a few zzzzz's after a sleepless night.

Like how she'd be there to offer her very tangible support during very lean times, even without my asking.

Like how she would wake me up just to tell me that something I liked was showing on TV. And even though I'd seen that show already, I'd watch it again out of appreciation of the fact that she knew I liked it. To this day, I can't figure out how she knew I liked that particular show. I didn't let anyone know I liked it; it was that cheesy.

Like how she loves, accepts, and supports me and my siblings unconditionally. She may question, oh boy, does she ever. But when all is said and done, whatever the issue - from the breakup of my marriage to the exploits of other relatives to whether it's okay to hum Zombie to the plants - the love, acceptance, support, and understanding are there...in-your-face or behind-the-scenes, they're always there. Along with her crazy-ass sense of humor and the exasperating radio dramas she listens to. I'm immensely thankful I was born to this terrific woman, she who is my despair, my inspiration, my goddess, my bulwark.

My mom's a funny creature, and I love her so much.

A blessed and meaningful Mother's Day to all mothers and mothers-to-be, young and old.

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

Please tell her 'Thank you' for me and Happy Mother's Day to both of you! Take care always!

Mimi Lenox said...

Oh Lizza. This made me cry.
Beautifully written. You are so fortunate and blessed to have this strong sensitivity from your mother.

I hope she gets the chance to read this.

Travis Cody said...

Happy Mother's Day to you and to your wonderful mom.

Anonymous said...

Happy Mother's Day to you and your mom!

(:

Have a blessed and meaningful one too!

Julie said...

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I invite you to join me - and a cast of incredible bloggers - as we mark our world with a promise of peace. Bloggers from around the globe will write posts entitled "Dona nobis pacem" and fly peace globes in the fourth launch of BlogBlast for Peace. I hope you will join the movement and participate again in this growing phenomenon. You are officially peace globe #270 in the Peace Globe Gallery. Click the link below to learn how to get your peace globe.
Your blog. One post. One day.
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If words are powerful, then this matters.
Peace,
Mimi Lenox
Brought to you by Mimi’s little helpers for peace.

Photo Cache said...

Happy Mother's Day to both of you.

Anonymous said...

what a lovely tribute to your mother Lizza. she must be very proud of you

Aileen said...

You are lucky and blessed to have such a great connection with your mom- enjoy Mother's Day, both of you!

Anonymous said...

p.s. I meant to tell you how much I like the new look....

Liz Hill said...

What a neat post. Amazing flowers--I've gotta start singing Cranberries songs to mine.

Happy Mother' Day

Vinny "Bond" Marini said...

An amaxing woman with an amazing mother...yeah, I coulda figured that out.,

I hope you and Mom had a beautiful Mother's Day

Anonymous said...

Sweet post about your Mom. Hope you and she both had a great Mother's Day.

Princess said...

This is a lovely post. Makes me wonder. Will one of my sons write about me like this? I wonder if they'll write at all!