Mother's Day Memorial
To My Dear Mother Of Blessed Memory... Each year, I miss you more....
You were such a happy person, so filled with light and joy... When young and fearless, you would jump up and ride huge brewery draft horses, bareback, in the stable next door.
You always sang wonderful happy funny songs. I can still hear you singing them in my mind.
You brought light (literally and figuratively) to those who you saw needed it. I remember you bought from Mr. Jevons, the janitor in our building, and we delivered a gas stove to replace a fiery hot wood burner in a super hot kitchen, I was less than 5 years old.
You taught first grade for over thirty years, and never had a student who did not succeed in learning to read.
You devoted your lunch hours to teaching older children, of other teachers, who had slipped through the cracks. I remember when you and Dad - of Blessed Memory - could no longer carry groceries, I drove from Boston to Staten Island, on the weekends and took you to the supermarket. Each and every time, at least one person stopped you. They asked if it was indeed you. Then each one thanked you with tears in their eyes for "Saving My Life." Or saving my Son's life! Or saving my Daughter's life! The sages say to save one life is equivalent to saving the whole universe... You saved many Universes, my dear Mother. So many people remembered you with a blessing, while you were alive!! I was deeply moved.,, i remember thinking what an honor it was to be your son...
When you were a young girl, each Friday you would carry firewood through the city streets, a task you found degrading and embarrassing. Then up the flights to your Grandmother's apartment. You scrubbed her floors on your hands and knees. She made you stop after each room and have a bite to eat. She said she had many Grandchildren, and you were the only one who helped her. Then she gave you her blessing."May you always know how to do everything, and not have to do them." And so it was. You never washed floors again. I just remembered that when you and Willie Lee, my Nanny, were both too old to even see the floor, I would scrub your kitchen floor on my hands and knees on my trips to you. And, you never asked me to! I just realized that I was the messenger sent to complete your Grandmother's blessing....
Hopefully, more next year...
Mother's Day Memorial
To My Dear Mother Of Blessed Memory... Each year, I miss you more....
You were such a happy person, so filled with light and joy... When young and fearless, you would jump up and ride huge brewery draft horses, bareback, in the stable next door.
You always sang wonderful happy funny songs. I can still hear you singing them in my mind.
You brought light (literally and figuratively) to those who you saw needed it. I remember you bought from Mr. Jevons, the janitor in our building, and we delivered a gas stove to replace a fiery hot wood burner in a super hot kitchen, I was less than 5 years old.
You taught first grade for over thirty years, and never had a student who did not succeed in learning to read.
You devoted your lunch hours to teaching older children, of other teachers, who had slipped through the cracks. I remember when you and Dad - of Blessed Memory - could no longer carry groceries, I drove from Boston to Staten Island, on the weekends and took you to the supermarket. Each and every time, at least one person stopped you. They asked if it was indeed you. Then each one thanked you with tears in their eyes for "Saving My Life." Or saving my Son's life! Or saving my Daughter's life! The sages say to save one life is equivalent to saving the whole universe... You saved many Universes, my dear Mother. So many people remembered you with a blessing, while you were alive!! I was deeply moved.,, i remember thinking what an honor it was to be your son...
When you were a young girl, each Friday you would carry firewood through the city streets, a task you found degrading and embarrassing. Then up the flights to your Grandmother's apartment. You scrubbed her floors on your hands and knees. She made you stop after each room and have a bite to eat. She said she had many Grandchildren, and you were the only one who helped her. Then she gave you her blessing."May you always know how to do everything, and not have to do them." And so it was. You never washed floors again. I just remembered that when you and Willie Lee, my Nanny, were both too old to even see the floor, I would scrub your kitchen floor on my hands and knees on my trips to you. And, you never asked me to! I just realized that I was the messenger sent to complete your Grandmother's blessing....
Hopefully, more next year...