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#97361 - 05/06/08 05:25 PM
Mom Stories/Memories/Tributes
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Annie
Administrator
Registered: 01/08/00
Posts: 7843
Loc: Long Island, NY
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Sunday - Mother's Day - in honor of that -
Do you have a funny story - great memory - moving tribute you'd be happy to share about your mom, grandma, aunt, surrogate mom? Words of wisdom shared with you that you carry with you today? Traits you've picked up that make people say "apple doesn't fall far from the tree...."
I am a handbag maniac, nail obsessed political junkie thanks to my mother. Oh - and opinionated too. ;)
One of my favorite "I love my mom" memories/stories is going back to when I was 13 and I wanted to see Queen at Madison Square Garden in NYC. Mom said no way - but she WOULD take me. She not only took me and my best friend - she made an adventure out of it - my first "grown-up" day in NYC doing a whole host of "cool" things followed by my poor mother having to endure 2-1/2 hours of blaring rock music, surrounded by the fabulous aroma of pot. Probably why she didn't have any sympathy for my sister having to endure taking my niece to Jonas Brothers a couple of weeks ago. 
Your mom stories?
_________________________
New to the site? Please read through the "How to Use MT CHAT" forum BEFORE POSTING!
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#97366 - 05/06/08 06:24 PM
Re: Mom Stories/Memories/Tributes
[Re: Annie]
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AnnR
Member
Registered: 12/31/69
Posts: 18431
Loc: Ocean Park WA
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Probably why she didn't have any sympathy for my sister having to endure taking my niece to Jonas Brothers a couple of weeks ago.
How about this for a funny story on ME--As an elderly person who spent most of her "young adult" years in Anchorage, Alaska, where there was a large fur store and museum (back when fur was "OK") named Jonas Brothers--no wonder the above sentence completely confused me (until I realized there must be a rock group . . .)
Edited by AnnR (05/06/08 06:25 PM)
_________________________
so many docs dictate stuff that makes sense only to them. . .
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#97369 - 05/06/08 06:45 PM
Re: Mom Stories/Memories/Tributes
[Re: Annie]
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Badfinger
Member
Registered: 11/07/07
Posts: 356
Loc: Grand Prairie, TX
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Oh, man, you got to see Queen? Mercury died before I even had a chance. How very cool of your mom to take you! A story for me that comes to mind was some advice that came from my grandma the day I got married. She pulled me to the side away from everybody and told me that no matter what anyone says, the wife "wears the pants" in the family. She was so right, what a smart woman!
_________________________
I've got something to say . . . . it's better to burn out than fade away.
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#97376 - 05/06/08 09:18 PM
Re: Mom Stories/Memories/Tributes
[Re: Annie]
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BlankKeys
Member
Registered: 04/09/08
Posts: 518
Loc: New York
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My mom and my daughter are my best friends. Additionally, my daughter was my mother's day gift 10 years ago (all 10 lbs 7 oz. of her) - I never had a better one! 
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#97388 - 05/07/08 08:04 AM
Re: Mom Stories/Memories/Tributes
[Re: BlankKeys]
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MicheleA
Member
Registered: 02/18/05
Posts: 1009
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Someone sent this this morning. I have seen it before. I do some of these things and my mom did them too.
Mean Moms
Someday when my children are old enough to
understand the logic that motivates a parent, I will tell them, as my mean ol' Mom told me:
I loved you enough . .. .
to ask where you were going, with whom,
and what time you would be home.
I loved you enough to be silent and let you
discover that your new best friend was a creep.
I loved you enough to stand over you for two hours while you cleaned your room, a job that should have taken 15 minutes.
I loved you enough to let you see anger,
disappointment, and tears in my eyes. Children must learn that their parents aren't perfect.
I loved you enough to let you assume the
responsibility for your actions even when the
penalties were so harsh they almost broke my heart.
But most of all, I loved you enough . . to say
NO when I knew you would hate me for it.
Those were the most difficult battles of all. I'm
glad I won them, because in the end you won, too.
And someday when your children are old enough to understand the logic that motivates parents, you will tell them.
The Meanest Mother
Was your Mom mean? I know mine was. We had the meanest mother in the whole world!
While other kids ate candy for breakfast, we
had to have cereal, eggs, and toast.
When others had a Pepsi and a Twinkie for lunch, we had to eat sandwiches.
And you can guess our mother fixed us a dinner that was
different from what other kids had, too.
Mother insisted on knowing where we were at all
times. You'd think we were convicts in a prison. She had to know who our friends were and what we were
doing with them. She insisted that if we said we
would be gone for an hour, we would be gone for an hour or less.
We were ashamed to admit it, but she had the nerve
to break the Child Labor Laws by making us work. We had to wash the dishes, make the beds, learn to cook, vacuum the floor, do laundry, empty the trash
and all sorts of cruel jobs. I think she would lie
awake at night thinking of more things for us to do.
She always insisted on us telling the truth, the
whole truth, and nothing but the truth. By the time
we were teenagers, she could read our minds and had
eyes in the back of her head. Then life was really tough!
Mother wouldn't let our friends just honk the horn
when they drove up. They had to come up to the door
so she could meet them. While everyone else could
date when they were 12 or 13, we had to wait until we were 16 .
Because of our mother we missed out on lots of
things other kids experienced. None of us have ever
been caught shoplifting, vandalizing other's
property, or ever arrested for any crime. It was all her fault.
Now that we have left home, we are all educated,
honest adults. We are doing our best to be mean
parents just like Mom was.
I think that is what's wrong with the world today.
It just doesn't have enough mean moms!
PASS THIS ON TO ALL THE MEAN MOTHERS YOU KNOW.
(And Their Kids!)
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#97390 - 05/07/08 08:31 AM
Re: Mom Stories/Memories/Tributes
[Re: BlankKeys]
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HoosierFemme
Member
Registered: 09/28/05
Posts: 1123
Loc: Parisian suburbs, France
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One thing I admire about my mother is that she never complains or speaks badly of anyone. (I fell on the other side of that tree!) Even when my father would make some comment on her cooking (which was delicious!), the most she would do was roll her eyes.
I'll never forget how when I was about 4 years old, I yelled "I'm going swimming!" and jumped into the deep end of a hotel pool. I'd forgotten I didn't know how to swim. What I remember next is my mother's nail-polished hand coming down into the water and pulling me out.
But what I admire most about her is that she prays every single day for each of her 4 kids and their spouses and her grandkids.
_________________________
The French motto is "Liberté, Egalité, and Get Out of My Way." English author Stephen Clarke
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#97391 - 05/07/08 08:34 AM
Re: Mom Stories/Memories/Tributes
[Re: HoosierFemme]
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HoosierFemme
Member
Registered: 09/28/05
Posts: 1123
Loc: Parisian suburbs, France
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Anita Renfroe's Mom's Overture is hilarious. Click HERE and scroll down to clip #1.
_________________________
The French motto is "Liberté, Egalité, and Get Out of My Way." English author Stephen Clarke
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#97429 - 05/07/08 05:19 PM
Re: Mom Stories/Memories/Tributes
[Re: HoosierFemme]
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Annie
Administrator
Registered: 01/08/00
Posts: 7843
Loc: Long Island, NY
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Great "ditty" on mean moms, Michele! I printed that out for my daughter, who is definitely thinking I am the meanest mom around. I thought by 21 we had passed that stage. ;)
I saw that clip a while back, Hoosier - but I LOVE it and thanks for posting it again! Great thing to watch again right before mom's day!
_________________________
New to the site? Please read through the "How to Use MT CHAT" forum BEFORE POSTING!
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#97565 - 05/09/08 03:29 PM
Re: Mom Stories/Memories/Tributes
[Re: HoosierFemme]
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Quiltie
Member
Registered: 11/05/01
Posts: 302
Loc: Oregon
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Anita Renfroe's Mom's Overture is hilarious. Click HERE and scroll down to clip #1.
Yes, she is absolutely hilarious! I was able to hear her at a conference last year and the Mom song was part of her performance.
One of my memories of mom was when I was 19 and moving out for the first time. We had unloaded the pickup and it was time for her to go back home. She brought in this trio of sandwich baggies with a ribbon tying them together. One had sugar, one had flour, and one had salt. It was a tradition of sorts that my kitchen cupboards would always have food to eat.
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#97577 - 05/09/08 07:47 PM
Re: Mom Stories/Memories/Tributes
[Re: Annie]
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Doug Jones
Member
Registered: 04/29/00
Posts: 1377
Loc: Indian Lake, NY
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One of the many things I remember about my mother was "The Look." She never had to say anything, but just - Look - at you, to get you to instantly stop what you were doing and behave. It's one of the memories that my sisters and I have, along with various cousins and childhood friends.
My sisters now wistfully wish they could do it, when their children are acting up. 
_________________________
Cthulhu/Hastur 2008: Why vote for the Lesser Evil?
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#97578 - 05/09/08 07:54 PM
Re: Mom Stories/Memories/Tributes
[Re: Doug Jones]
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tropsicleAfter
Member
Registered: 10/30/06
Posts: 2166
Loc: MS Gulf Coast
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My mom had an earlobe grab/pinch that both, at the same time, rendered one unable to scream (at the pain) and compeled to follow (usually out of the store/church/official function).
She failed to pass on the technique to me before she passed away.
I sorely wish i had that technique available to me for my 9-year-old.
_________________________
tropsicle
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#97626 - 05/10/08 04:35 PM
Re: Mom Stories/Memories/Tributes
[Re: Doug Jones]
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BlankKeys
Member
Registered: 04/09/08
Posts: 518
Loc: New York
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I know that evil look! My dad had it though, not my mom - she's too sweet. Wish I could do it, but I guess some of us just never acquire the talent! My only "mom" trick is having ears like a bat - I always know what they're saying.
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#97647 - 05/10/08 08:33 PM
Re: Mom Stories/Memories/Tributes
[Re: BlankKeys]
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Doug Jones
Member
Registered: 04/29/00
Posts: 1377
Loc: Indian Lake, NY
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I know that evil look! My dad had it though, not my mom
The only one in my family who has the ability to give "The Look" is - me. The only problem is that I don't know I'm doing it, while my mother knew how to do it on command.  I usually figure figure out I did it after people start suddenly apologizing to me.
_________________________
Cthulhu/Hastur 2008: Why vote for the Lesser Evil?
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#97675 - 05/11/08 11:57 AM
Re: Mom Stories/Memories/Tributes
[Re: Doug Jones]
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kymandie
Member
Registered: 05/15/01
Posts: 517
Loc: Oregon
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I can remember when my brother truly believed mom had eyes in the back of her head. He actually looked for them one day!
Between the ages of 6 and 9, I spent a total of about a year and a half in and out of hospitals or at home in a full plaster body cast lying flat on my back. Mom was the one who was always there, running up and down the stairs with food, books, bedpan, knitting needles for scratching (those cookie crumbs were terrible!), and other assorted needs. I think out of all those times, she only left me with a babysitter once. I just can't imagine what that was like for her.
During one of these occcasions, she got new curtains for the kitchen. She described them to me as "holy." So, I pictured curtains with pictures of Jesus. Turns out, they were white curtains with circular holes in them! I was rather shocked when I finally got to see them 2 months later.
I just wished we could live a bit closer so I could celebrate Mother's Day with her.
Mandie
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#97679 - 05/11/08 01:48 PM
Re: Mom Stories/Memories/Tributes
[Re: kymandie]
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meri
Member
Registered: 09/08/01
Posts: 8796
Loc: Murrieta, California
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My mom had a no-nonsense attitude that I loved. Lots and lots of memories. She passed away about 7 years ago now, but one of the things that comes to mind is when she knew she was dying she would ask me if wanted this or that, her car, etc. It was really hard to hear her ask these things. One day I asked her if this was supposed to make me feel better after she was gone, getting these things. She immediately said, "Yes. Isn't that the point?"
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#97681 - 05/11/08 02:08 PM
Re: Mom Stories/Memories/Tributes
[Re: Annie]
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MattsKat
Member
Registered: 11/28/04
Posts: 2159
Loc: Here and Now...USA
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This is a "mother" poem my daughter chose for a drama class in 7th grade. It's by Carol Lynn Pearson.
Millie's Mother's Red Dress
It hung there in the closet
While she was dying, Mother's red dress
Like a gash in the row
Of dark, old clothes
She had worn away her life in.
They had called me home,
And I knew when I saw her
She wasn't going to last.
When I saw the dress, I said
"Why, Mother - How beautiful!
I've never seen it on you."
"I've never worn it," she slowly said.
"Sit down, Millie - I'd like to undo
A lesson or two before I go, if I can."
I sat by her bed
And she sighed a bigger breath
Than I thought she could hold.
"Now that I'll soon be gone,
I can see some things.
Oh, I taught you good - but I taught you wrong."
"What do you mean, Mother?"
"Well - I always thought
That a good woman never takes her turn,
That she's just for doing for somebody else.
Do here, do there, always keep
Everybody else's wants tended and make sure
Yours are at the bottom of the heap."
"Maybe someday you'll get to them.
But of course you never do.
My life was like that - doing for your Dad,
Doing for the boys, for your sisters, for you."
"You did - everything a mother could."
"Oh Millie, Millie, it was no good -
For you - for him. Don't you see?
I did you the worst of wrongs.
I asked for nothing - for me!"
"Your father in the other room,
All stirred up and staring at the walls -
When the doctor told him, he took
it bad - came to my bed and all but shook
the life right out of me. 'You can't die,
Do you hear? What'll become of me?
What'll become of me?'
It'll be hard, all right, when I go.
He can't even find the frying pan, you know."
"And you children -
I was a free ride for everybody, everywhere.
I was the first one up and the last one down
Seven days out of the week.
I always took the toast that got burned.
And the smallest piece of pie."
I look at how some of your brothers
Treat their wives now
And it makes me sick, cause it was me
That taught it to them, and they learned.
They learned that a woman doesn't
Even exist except to give.
Why, every single penny that I could save
Went for your clothes, or your books,
Even when it wasn't necessary.
Can't even remember once when I took
Myself downtown to buy something beautiful -
For me."
Except last year when I got that red dress.
I found I had twenty dollars
that wasn't especially spoke for.
I was on my way to pay it extra on the washer.
But somehow - I came home with this big box.
Your father really gave it to me then.
'Where you going to wear a thing like that to -
Some opera or something?'
And he was right, I guess.
I've never, except in the store,
Put on that dress."
"Oh Millie - I always thought if you take
nothing for yourself in this world
You'd have it all in the next somehow.
I don't believe that anymore.
I think the Lord wants us to have something -
Here - and now."
And I'm telling you, Millie, if some miracle
Could get me off this bed, you could look
For a different mother, cause I would be one.
Oh, I passed up my turn so long
I would hardly know how to take it.
But I'd learn, Millie.
I would learn!"
It hung in the closet
While she was dying, Mother's red dress,
Like a gash in the row
Of dark old clothes
She had worn away her life in.
Her last words to me were these:
"Do me the honor, Millie,
Of not following in my footsteps.
Promise me that."
I promised.
She caught her breath
Then Mother took her turn
In death.
_________________________
Those who can laugh at themselves shall never cease to be amused.
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#97687 - 05/11/08 08:00 PM
Re: Mom Stories/Memories/Tributes
[Re: MattsKat]
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Bellatrix
Member
Registered: 02/26/06
Posts: 183
Loc: The night sky
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My mother never missed cooking breakfast for me, my brother and my father every morning of every year that I was in school. Something different every day, not cold cereal. I remember her standing by the stove with the spatula waiting for my dad to start down the stairs so she could get his eggs going. She said she wished the theme song from Masterpiece Theater would start when the "king" began to descend the stairs. She would get really mad when she got psyched into starting the eggs and it was not him coming down yet.
She took me to my first play, "You Can't Take it with You" staring Charlie Weaver when I was about 9 or 10 and made me a theater lover for life by exposing me to all different kinds of plays and musicals.
She was a wonderful seamstress and I never had to get clothes from a store until I was in high school.
When my kindergarten class took a walk we went past my house and she was there on the porch waving at me. I have always wondered how she knew. She was a room mother a lot of years and though she hated the PTA she joined and worked when they asked her to. Her fishing booth at the school carnival was stellar. We still have some of the fish, all sequins and glitter.
She took my brother and me to "Endless Summer" at the art movie theater. She took me to "Psycho" when I was about 11, and it scared the crap out of both of us. I think she was trying to climb into my lap more than I was trying to climb into hers.
She is the author of the mealtime rhyme: Over the table and not on the floor or mother will let out a great big roar!
When my brother and I started college at our local junior college, she went too because she had always wanted to go to college. She was the English student of the year and ended up having several poems published.
She gave me my really twisted sense of humor. She showed me that if you want to try something, do it. Don't be influenced by convention and never let somebody tell you could not do something. She hated camping and was convinced bears would get her if she went to the outhouse at night by herself.
After my father died, at the age of 73 she had a red-hot love affair with a very cool guy from Wales.
She wanted to die by "waking up dead" and she did. She died in her sleep at the age of 79. We bought her a new suit from Nordstrom to be buried in since she never would do it for herself. We had no hymns at her funeral, only classical music that she loved and a party afterwards.
Needless to say I miss her everyday, but she did a great job and so mostly I laugh about one thing or another, but I have never, ever seen Psycho again.
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#97689 - 05/11/08 08:40 PM
Re: Mom Stories/Memories/Tributes
[Re: Bellatrix]
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Doug Jones
Member
Registered: 04/29/00
Posts: 1377
Loc: Indian Lake, NY
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I think the best tribute to my mother is that despite our efforts to the contrary, all five of us turned out fairly well. She never got a chance to see it, but I'm sure if she had, she would have adopted the phrase from the Borg as her motto in dealing with us: "Resistance is futile."
_________________________
Cthulhu/Hastur 2008: Why vote for the Lesser Evil?
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#97701 - 05/11/08 09:57 PM
Re: Mom Stories/Memories/Tributes
[Re: Doug Jones]
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moaab
Member
Registered: 02/02/08
Posts: 378
Loc: Chicagoland
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A funny story I remember about my mom was from the 1960s. My brother and I were young (I was maybe 3 or 4) and she would give us Campbell's Alphabet Soup for lunch sometimes. She would pick up a spoonful and say, "Hmm....Barbie Doll. This must be for you, Vikki." With the next spoonful she would say, "This one says 'Dump Truck'. It must be for you, Larry." Later, when I was about 8 years old (and had learned to read) I thought to myself, "Why don't I ever get words in my soup? Mom used to get them all the time!" After years later when I was about 11, I FINALLY realized that my mom made it all up! I've always been a bit gullible. Now that I have children of my own, I play these mind games with them to, and I've found that my daughter is just a gullible as I was and it is so much fun!
_________________________
Most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.........Abraham Lincoln's mother
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#97728 - 05/12/08 11:55 AM
Re: Mom Stories/Memories/Tributes
[Re: Bellatrix]
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meri
Member
Registered: 09/08/01
Posts: 8796
Loc: Murrieta, California
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Bella - what a lovely tribute to your mom! She sounds like she was a wonderful woman. Thanks for sharing her with us!
Meri
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