Mother's Day

It's the day past Mother's Day. I've been a mommy for 32 years now. Yes, I count my "pregnant with Amy" year. I scored a diamond necklace that Mother's Day! The two of us were living in Osage, and we headed Austin, MN that weekend to shop a bit.

I was still in the earlier stages of pregnancy - not yet full-on big and bitchy. He had always told me if I ever spied a deer before he did, he'd get me a diamond necklace. I know, it doesn't sound like much a feat today. But back then, deer were still rare. (If only...). It took me a long time. I'd been searching for a couple years by then. That day I scored!

I still think of that when I wear the necklace. It's not a big diamond, but I love it. The funny thing is, Paul still yells out, "there's a deer!" every time he sees one. Like it's a rare creature. Right. Anyhow, I still love him, father of my children.

Not sure who was driving...

When Mother's Day rolls around, somehow I always feel like an imposter. It's supposed to be for MY mom, not me. Even though she's been gone 20 years this year. And sadly, I didn't value her as much as I should have when she was here. First I was busy being a self-centered young person. Then I was busy being a young mommy.

I was in about 8th grade here. Don't tip Dad! Are those socks he has on?  

I miss my mom. In her honor, I published the picture above on Facebook. It's  from the early 1970's. Mom got the idea that she wanted a sailboat. So she switched cigarette brands for a while - from Virginia Slims to Kool, collecting carton ends to purchase a Kool Sailboat. I remember when the styrofoam boat was delivered and we had to put fiberglass sheets on the bottom and smear epoxy glue over them to harden and protect the boat. The result was a lightweight boat that held 3 people or 4 if 2 were little kids.

I don't remember how we got the boat over to Lake Anita. Periodically we'd head over there and said. Susi and Cindy had attended Camp Lake Hubert in Minnesota and knew how to sail, but I don't think Mom and Dad knew a thing about it. The Deters like to go over with Mom and Dad too. There may have been some beverages - perhaps a trip to the Redwood.

The boat's official name was "the Bullfrog" and they joked that they should put the letters on upside down - as that was how they sailed it. I wonder if they Dad's wallet when they drained the lake a couple years ago? Happy Mother's Day Momma. Love you.

I was childless this Mother's Day because the kids live far away. But the offspring represented very well! Flowers on Saturday from Jud and Kara, with a gift - a way cool dish towel from an environmentally friendly company. Amy made a great donation to an organization I care deeply about. I've told them before - don't get me anything. They disobeyed! And they both called. Jud fessed up that Kara took care of the gifts. Daughter-in-laws rock. Soon Amy will be married and we'll have another son - Corey! I'm so glad I'm a mommy.

Paul treated me well on Mother's Day even though I'm not his mommy. He talked me into riding 14 miles on my bike. At least there were some nice cool stops along the way. And beer. And water. I'm very careful about drinking and biking because I'm a brittle old girl! Great weekend.

Warm Blankets

My friend Shelly Codner posted recently that she was washing bedding and had a flashback of the days when she used to rush her "warm from the dryer" blankets to her kids to snuggle them as they watched television. .

Of course, I couldn't resist and posted something like, "Geez, my kids got cheated cuz I never did that...". Another mutual friend (smartass Scott, yet accurate) posted, "Probably explains why your kids moved out of state." Touche!

In my defense, in our first Creston home, the laundry room was buried in the back corner of the basement. To get there with loads of laundry, I had to maneuver over the baby gate, down a steep flight of carpeted stairs, through the narrow confines of the hot tub room (a whole 'nother story) and into the utility room. By the time i "rushed" warm blankets up, they would have been luke-warm at best...

Still, the thought never crossed my mind. Have I ever mentioned what a function-oriented person I am? That's why I have a hard time doing things that aren't part of the plan - like making the bed. Even  decorating for holidays is beyond me. Planning events with decorations and flowers? Ugh. I'm much better at meeting planning where nobody expects fancy food and beauty. I certainly appreciate that others have an eye and talent for those things. I love the results - just can't make it happen!

I'm planning a Leadership Training segment for a November meeting for a stakeholder group I work with and met with the presenter this week. We talked about identifying personality types. She said good leaders are adept at putting people with different personality types together and matching skill sets on projects to ensure the best outcomes. The training is going to be great!

Unfortunately, parents don't always get to do that. Our team, Paul and me, was made up of two functional persons and zero artsy people. Looking back, I wish I'd spend more time enjoying warm blankets - instead of rushing them off to the make up the beds. Nevertheless, we managed! We are even invited to visit the offspring out of state.

But we are who we are - I didn't fall too far from my mother's tree. I've blogged about her sometimes brusk style that that seemed harsh at the time, but made me who I am today. We can control our actions. I try to make a conscious effort to find ways to blanket our family from afar. Just don't put me in charge of decorating with fancy stuff. ;>)