I was walking through the grocery store a couple a days ago, picking up some items that I routinely want to put in the fridge and pantry. Families were shopping for Christmas dinners and there were a couple of instances where the impatient Dads and Grand Dads were lingering behind Mom and the kids, hanging out in the grocery store for the first time in a while.
As I wondered along, I recalled the times that Mommy and I would go grocery shopping together. Many times the fruit and vegetable items were the first to be encountered as you enter the store. I would get Mommy her own cart so that she could take her time to squeeze the melons, pick out her green beans, smell the tomatoes and fuss over the greens that were rarely “fresh” enough for her. She would have a good time in the fruit and vegetable section while I sped around the store and picked up all the food items that I knew she wanted. I’d catch her in the dairy section every time, when I’d let her know that I have everything she wanted. It never failed, Mommy would call herself looking through my cart to make sure. She would always ask, “How do you know what I want?” Many times when she felt in high spirits, I could coax her into a mock confrontation and everyone around would have a good laugh. Mommy would laugh so hard; many times she’d tire herself and have to nap when we returned home.
“Anyway,” (as Mommy would say), while I walked along among the other shoppers with these funny memories of Mommy in my head, I picked up a couple of canned goods that I knew Mommy would like. I took a few steps before I realized what I had done, when all it took was a conscious memory of Mommy.
It’s always this time of year when I miss her most. I remember her as always smiling around this time of year. She wanted to attend every senior function and church activity to comfort others. She wanted to make others smile. We would attend as many functions as we could. There was just something about Mommy around Christmas. She even fussed at me more around Christmas. I guess that’s why it’s A TIME THAT I MISS HER THE MOST.
A BEAUTIFUL, CLOSE FRIEND GAVE ME THESE WORDS WHEN MOMMY LEFT, NOVEMBER 7, 2007. I KEEP IT IN MY OFFICE, HANGING WHERE I CAN SEE IT EVERY DAY. I THOUGHT THAT I WOULD SHARE IT WITH YOU.
COMMENT: from little brother KERMIT
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing all of those beautiful memories! You know, for me, words from a song by gospel artist Percy Bady come to mind, reminding me of Mommy in the season that we celebrate the birth of our savior, Jesus Christ. Allow me to share them with all:
We'll touch again. But until then, your gone but not forgotten. I can still hear your voice, calling out my name. I can still see your face, and that, time can't erase. Your always in my heart, we'll never be apart. Though it seems the distance is so far away, I will remember you. Gone, but not forgotten, a meek and quiet spirit.
MERRY CHRISTMAS MOMMY!
COMMENT: Craig & Cassandra Cullers
ReplyDeleteYour mother is beautiful! She is still with you, know that! She did a magnificent job raising you! Merry Christmas Craig & Cassandra Cullers