When I was in kindergarten, the class made a little art project for
our mothers for May Day: a little "basket" out of construction paper,
with a few "flowers" of construction paper tucked inside. I walked
home proudly with my May Basket and put it on the front ****ch where
Mom would see it. I rang the doorbell and then I hid beside the
****ch. When Mom came out she must have seen me, because she made a
great show of saying out loud, "Why, what beautiful flowers! -- Where
could they have come from?!" Then I jumped out and hugged her legs
and said something like, "I made the flowers for you in school,
because it's May, and I love you!"
A tradition was born that day. I gave my mom flowers on May Day
every year. It was one of "our" days. Dad used to get
somewhat upset that I didn't make more out of Mothers' Day. I used to
call Mom on Mothers' Day just to say, "Tell Dad I called you on
Mothers' Day." Some years it was just a drawing of flowers. Some
years it was flowers (and weeds) plucked out of the garden. One year
when I was in college it was dried (pressed) buttercups ironed between
sheets of wax paper.
In more recent years, I called a florist in their neighborhood who
puts together a basket with some spring flowers. After some years of
this the lady at the flower shop began to say, "Oh, yes, you're the
man who always sends flowers to his mother on May Day!"
After my mother's death in June of 2000 I had the problem (we all do)
of how to be true to my love for her in spite of losing her. Easy --
I send the flowers to my sister. So the tradition changes but
continues.
When we cleaned out the house after my father's death in 2005, one of
the hardest things to go through was stacks and boxes of treasures we
had given them over the years. Works of art drawn by our little hands
as soon as we were trusted with crayons. Cards from birthdays and
mother's days . . . and yes, too dear to her heart to throw away, a
faded green construction paper "basket" with some faded red
construction paper "flowers". So much love. So much love in the
giving, and so much love in the saving. Ah! And so much love in the
remembering.
Happy May Day, Mom.
Peace and hugs to all the moms out there.
--
Daniel ( deltaechomike@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
)
|
