Been pondering on Mother’s Day perched in the porch swing and watching the songbirds. The sky is dark blue and has a few wisps of clouds floating along like beautiful fish in a blue crystal fish bowl. When the fish swam away the sky stayed cloud free the rest of the day. I read quotes all day relating to mothers and Mother’s Day. Was curious about bird mothers and research told me vultures are the most devoted bird mothers in nature. One article I read said the vulture’s relationship with death makes her a great mother. Ancient civilizations revered the vulture as a symbol of The Great Mother. The worst mothers are the brown-headed cowbirds who lay their eggs in host nests and off they go letting other birds raise their young.

I can remember vividly when I got the call from vet brother that my mama had died. I can hear his voice now. “Mama’s gone, baby, bring your family and come home.” We had gathered together the day before to celebrate our McMurray Thanksgiving. Mama had taught me how to make a pecan pie that morning, giving me directions from her bedroom near the kitchen. The doctor said she should not go, she was ill with congested heart failure, but she went, determined to enjoy the day. Chief helped carry her up the front stairs of vet brother’s home. She was so very weak but enjoyed spending the day with her family.

When my little family packed up and left her home for Alexander City, the last thing she told me when I hugged her bye was to tell me to tell Rosie she loved her. After mama died I honestly finally felt like an adult because I was no longer somebody’s child. Goldie Hawn expresses this sentiment so beautifully, “The truth is that no matter how old we are, as long as our mothers are alive, we want our mother.” I don’t think we ever not want our mothers. I know I still want mine.

When I got the call that Rosie had been killed in a car wreck my first thought was how on earth will I call my mother and give her this news. Mama had been dead seven years but I still wanted her comfort and to hear her voice on the phone. Adriana Trigiani says, “No one worries about you like your mother, and when she is gone, the world seems unsafe, things that happen unwieldy. You cannot turn to her anymore, and it changes your life forever.”

On a happier note I love what Erma Bombeck says about being a mother. “When my kids become wild and unruly, I use a nice, safe playpen. When they’re finished, I climb out.” I love that! Mothers are such a powerful force and play such a important role in raising a child. Williams Makepeace Thackeray wrote in Vanity Fair, “Mother is the name for God in the lips and hearts of little children.” A mother’s love is so pure, you can see it in her eyes. Mitch Albom writes, “When you look into your mother’s eyes, you know that is the purest love you can find on this earth.”

I was thinking of a mother’s advice and I asked Stew if he could remember any advice I gave him. He immediately laughed and said, “Don’t touch the stove. It’s hot!” I know every mother has said that more than once. I’m still pondering on any advice my mother gave me. She’d count Chief’s cigarette butts in the ashtray at my apartment in Alex City and lecture me on letting him stay too late. Her advice was and it’s embarrassing, “Don’t let him spend the night, you won’t have a honeymoon.” Okay, we’ll leave that there!

As a mother I think our biggest accomplishments are our children. It doesn’t matter how old they are, they will always be our babies, and we’ll always worry about them. If you are reading and are so fortunate to have your mother in your life, the greatest gift you can give her is to let her hear you say, “I love you! And I appreciate all you do for me.”

“A happy family is but an earlier heaven.” — George Bernard Shaw